LI  E>  RAR.Y 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 
Of    ILLINOIS 

91  7  .  73 

P33g 
cop. 2 


I  .H.S. 


GAZETTEER  OF  ILLINOIS, 


THREE    PARTS: 


CONTAINING 


A  GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  STATE;  A  GENERAL 
VIEW  OF  EACH  COUNTY; 


A.    PARTICULAR   DESCRIPTION    OF   EACH  TOWN,  SETTLEMENT. 
STREAM,  PRAIRIE,  BOTTOM,  BLUFF,  ETC. — ALPHA- 
BETICALLY   ARRANGED. 


BY    J.    M.   PECK, 

AUTHOR   OF   A   GUIDE   FOR.   EMIGRANTS,    ETC. 


JACKSONVILLE: 
PUBLISHED  BY   R.  GOUDY, 

1  834. 


ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year 
1834,  by  J.  M.  PECK,  in  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  Dis- 
trict Court  of  Illinois. 


C.  GOUDY,  PRINTER, 


7  f 


INTRODUCTION 


THE  utility  and  importance  of  an  accurate  Gazeteer  of  Illinois  to 

£   every  class  of  citizens  within  the  state,  and  to  all  other  persons  who 

desire  full  and  particular  information,  are  too  obvious  to  need  proof. 

This  work  was  undertaken  by  the  author  nearly  two  years  since, 

at  the  suggestion  and  request  of  many  of  his  fellow  citizens,  some  of 

^•whom  fill  distinguished  posts  of  honor  in  the  state  and  nation. 

No  state  in  the  "Great  West"  has  attracted  so  much  attention,  and 
^   elicited  so  many  enquiries  from  those  who  desire  to  avail  themselves 
T~  of  the  advantages  of  a  settlement  in  a  new  and  rising  country,  as  that 
of  Illinois;  and  none  is  filling  up  so  rapidly  with  an  emigrating  po- 
pulation from  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  several  kingdoms  of 
'  •    Europe.     Consequently,  the  call  for  correct  information  of  all  por- 

Jtions  of  the  state  has  become  pressing. 
In  preparing  this  work  with  special  reference  to  this  call,  the  author 
has  kept  one  point  constantly  in  view.  Accuracy  of  description,  or  a 
registry  of  facts  and  things  as  they  actually  exist  in  every  part  of  the 
state,  has  been  a  paramount  object.  How  far  he  has  succeeded  will 
oe  submitted  to  the  judgment  of  his  fellow  citizens  in  each  county. 
That  no  imperfections  or  inaccuracies  exist  in  the  work,  the  author  is 
.  not  vain  enough  to  imagine ;  but  that  as  a  whole,  or  as  to  its  parts,  it 
is  sufficiently  accurate  for  all  useful  purposes,  will  appear  on  refer- 
ence to  the  labor  bestowed  to  obtain  correct  information  of  every  spot 
he  attempts  to  describe. 


IV  INTRODUCTION. 

To  the  facts  and  observations  of  many  years'  residence  in  the  state, 
and  traveling  in  all  the  older  settlements,  of  which  record  was  made 
for  his  own  use,  and  that  of  his  immediate  friends,  may  be  added   vie 
following  facilities  for  gaining  correct  topographical  and  historical 
formation. 

In  the  winter  of  1832,  '33,  the  author  spent  several  weeks  at  Van- 
dalia,during  the  session  of  the  legislature,  where  the  principal  part  of 
the  work  was  written.  Access  was  had,  through  the  polite  attention 
of  the  governor,  secretary  of  state,  auditor,  and  other  public  officers,  to 
all  the  public  documents,  state  records,  and  journals.  Both  houses  of 
the  legislature,  with  equal  liberality,  granted  a  copy  of  the  laws  and 
journals  of  that  body,  and  likewise,  (if  duplicates  existed,)  copies  ot 
all  preceding  laws,  journals,  and  printed  documents,  of  the  territorial 
and  state  governments.  These  were  carefully  examined,  and  from 
them  much  valuable  information  obtained. 

Personal  intercourse  was  also  had  with  the  members  of  the  legisla- 
ture and  other  gentlemen,  from  each  county,  and  from  that  source  ma- 
ny of  the  facts  in  the  general  description  of  the  counties  in  Part  Se- 
cond, and  the  particulars  of  each  place  in  Part  Third,  were  obtained. 
The  course  of  the  author  was,  to  spend  two  or  three  hours  each  even- 
ing with  gentlemen  from  a  county,  who  were  well  acquainted  with 
every  part,  and  write  a  brief  sketch  of  the  same. 

These  were  drawn  off  in  proper  order  the  next  day,  and,  in  many  in- 
stances, submitted  to  the  same  persons  for  inspection  and  revision. 
All  the  items  for  one  county  were  thus  finished  before  entering  upon  a 
survey  of  another. 

By  this  method,  no  creek,  prairie,  or  settlement,  known  by  name 
amongst  the  people,  would  escape  notice,  and  accuracy  of  description 
would  be  attained. 

These  accounts  were  then  collated  with  the  statements  received  from 
other  sources,  and  from  the  author's  own  notes  of  observation.  Hav- 
ing thus  prepared  the  main  portion  of  the  work,  the  publication  was 


INTRODUCTION.  V 

postponed  one  year  purposely  to  afford  opportunity  for  a  personal  exa- 
tiou  of  much  of  the  state. 

The  employment  of  Superintending  Agent  of  Sunday  School  af- 
fairs in  Illinois,  which  commenced  immediately  after  the  close  of  the 
author's  labors  at  Vandalia,  furnished  this  opportunity.  Thus,  tho 
means  were  afforded,  by  a  careful  observation  through  many  counties 
in  the  state,  to  uetect  any  errors,  and  to  give  further  particulars. 

No  small  pains  have  been  taken  to  obtain  the  latest  information, 
especially  from  the  recently  organized  counties  in  the  north,  where 
new  settlements  are  made  every  month,  and  villages  spring  up  as  the 
growth  of  a  summer.  Still,  some  settlements,  planted  within  the  pre- 
sent year,  may  not  have  come  to  the  author's  knowledge. 

It  would  be  rather  invidious  to  name  individuals  from  whom  the 
author  has  received  aid  in  this  work,  and  to  whom  he  is  desirous  of  re- 
turning his  humble  and  grateful  acknowledgements.  To  the  officers 
of  state,  the  members  of  the  last  legislature,  many  post  masters,  and 
other  citizens,  his  thanks  are  due.  Much  of  the  real  value  of  the  work 
is  from  information  they  imparted,  or  from  documents  and  records 
over  which  they  had  legal  control. 

The  general  description,  and  estimates  of  the  population  of  the 
counties,  in  the  second  part,  and  number  of  families  in  settlements,  are 
ail  from  facts  collected  during  the  session  of  the  last  legislature.  In 
many  of  the  counties,  the  estimate  of  population,  as  given  in  the  table 
in  the  appendix,  will  vary  considerably  from  that  in  the  description  of 
the  county,  but  this  difference  will  show  the  supposed  ratio  of  increase 
in  a  period  of  about  one  year  and  nine  months. 

The  delay  of  the  work  after  it  went  to  press,  from  unforeseen  causes, 
has  enabled  the  publisher  to  give  a  column  in  one  of  the  tables  of  the 
appendix,  showing  the  votes  returned  from  the  polls  of  each  county 
at  the  election  on  the  first  Monday  in  August,  this  year. 


Vi  INTRODUCTION. 

Supposing  every  eighth  person  to  have  voted  would  make  the  popu- 
lation of  the  state  in  August,  272,816 — allowing  every  seventh  person 
to  have  voted,  the  result  would  be  238,714. 

That  table,  which  was  constructed  previous  to  the  election,  and  es- 
timating the  population  at  250,000,  is  but  a  moderate  estimate,  and 
when  conapared  with  the  census  of  1830,  which  was  161,000,  will  fur- 
nish an  index  of  the  rapid  growth  of  the  state.  Business,  and  improve- 
ments of  every  description,  have  kept  pace  with  the  increase  of  popu- 
lation. Much  of  the  emigration  that  now  enters  the  state  exceeds 
that  of  former  years  in  wealth,  enterprize,  and  intelligence. 

Some  changes  have  been  made  in  the  state  since  the  work  went  to 
press.  Iroquois  county  has  been  organized  by  authority  of  the  judge 
of  that  circuit,  consequently  it  must  have  more  than  three  hundred  and 
fifty  inhabitants.  Estimating  its  population  by  the  number  of  votes 
at  the  last  election,  and  it  must  contain  nearly  five  hundred  inhabi- 
tants. 

Two  new  Lanrl  Districts  were  made  in  Illinois  at  the  last  session  of 
congress,  called  North  West  and  North  East  Land  Districts. 

North  West  District  is  in  ihr  north  western  portion  of  the  state,  and 
bounded  south  by  the  line  between  townships  twelve  and  thirteen 
north,  on  the  military  tract,  and  oast  by  the  line  between  ranges  three 
and  four  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian,  and  north  by  the  northern 
boundaiy  of  the  state. 

North  East  District  is  in  the  north  east  poriion  of  the  state,  and 
bounded  south  by  the  line  between  townships  thirty  and  thirty-one,  on 
the  third  principal  meridian,  east  by  lake  Michigan,  and  north  by  the 
boundary  of  the  state. 

That  portion  of  the  Wisconsin  territory  which  lies  between  the 
northern  boundary  of  Illinois,  and  the  Wisconsin  river  and  Green  bay, 
has  been  formed  into  two  land  districts.  The  one  on  the  west  side  is 
called  Wisconsin,  and  the  other  Green  Bay.  The  dividing  line  is 
the  range  line  next  west  from  Fort  Winnebago. 


INTRODUCTION.  VH 

In  some  instances  the  publication  of  weekly  papers  have  been  sus- 
pended. 

The  population  of  Springfield  and  of  Jacksonville  is  given  accord- 
ing to  the  estimate  of  citizens  in  each  place  in  September. 

The  author  has  not  hesitated  to  avail  himself  of  the  labors  of  those 
who  have  gone  before  him,  in  descriptions  of  this  state.  A  Gazetteer 
of  Missouri  and  Illinois,  by  Lewis  C.  Back,  M.  D.  and  published  in 
1823,  was  a  valuable  and  meritorious  work  in  its  day.  The  same  ge- 
neral plan  has  been  followed  in  this  work. 

Judge  Hall,  in  his  Magazine,  has  done  much  to  exhibit  the  charac- 
teristics of  the  state,  and  reference  has  baen  had  to  his  "Notes  on  Illi- 
nois." 

It  has  caused  the  author  no  small  trouble  to  decide  upon  the  ortho- 
graphy of  proper  names.  Many  of  those  found  in  this  work  have  never 
been  published  to  any  extent,  so  as  to  become  settled  in  orthography. 
In  offering  new  names  to  the  public  it  is  desirable  that  the  spelling 
conform  to  the  pronunciation.  While  the  author  does  not  feel  autho- 
rized to  make  innovations  upon  established  usages,  he  is  willing  to  con- 
tribute his  humble  mite  to  improve  the  orthography  of  the  language: 
where  custom  has  not  fixed  it. 

Many  aboriginal  names  in  the  west  were  first  written  in  French,  and 
after  by  persons  of  very  inferior  literary  attainments.  Some  of  these 
have  already  undergone  changes.  Thus  we  have  VV abash  for  Ou-. 
bache, — Washitau  for  Ouchitta ;  and  for  similar  reasons  we  ought  to 
write  Wisconsin  for  Ouisconsin, — Mackinau  for  Michilimacinac, — 
Meredosha  for  Marais  d'Ogee,  etc. 

Such  aboriginal  names  as  have  not  been  printed,  the  author  has 
spelled  according  to  the  pronunciation,  and  for  the  correctness  of  this 
he  has  relied  upon  information  of  persons  accustomed  to  hear  the 
sounds  expressed  by  natives. 

After  all,  several  discrepancies  will  be  discovered  in  different  parts 
of  the  work. 


Vlii  INTRODUCTION. 

In  such  names  as  have  the  French  or  broad  sound  of  a,  he  has  pre- 
Terred  the  termination  of  au  to  aw.  The  exceptions  are  in  Wabash 
and  a  few  others,  where  the  a  is  sanctioned  by  custom,  and  the  sound 
generally  understood. 

A  table  of  errata  has  been  given  to  correct  the  more  prominent  er- 
rors of  the  press.  Had  the  author  possessed  leisure,  and  resided  at  the 
place  of  publication  so  as  to  have  inspected  the  proof  sheets,  this  table 
would  have  been  spared.  But  in  composing  more  than  one  thousand 
proper  names,  many  of  which  are  not  commonly  found  in  print,  the 
most  skilful  and  accurate  compositors  and  proof  readers  would  neces- 
sarily commit  mistakes. 

Rock  Spring,   (/«.)    October,  1834. 


PART  FIRST. 

GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  STATE  OP  ILLINOIS. 


SITUATION,      BOUNDARIES,      AND     EXTENT, — FACE     OF     THE 

COUNTRY,  AND  QUALITIES    OF   SOIL, RIVERS  AND  LAKES, 

— MINERAL,    ANIMAL,     AND    VEGETABLE    PRODUCTIONS, 

•MANUFACTURES, NATURAL  CURIOSITIES,  AND  ANTIQUI- 
TIES,  CLIMATE  AND  HEALTH, — CIVIL  DIVISIONS, GOV- 
ERNMENT,  EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS, 

PUBLIC     LANDS, PLANS     OF    INTERNAL    IMPROVEMENT,— 

HISTORY, MISCELLANEOUS  REMARKS. 


SITUATION,    BOUNDARIES,  AND  EXTENT. 

THE  State  of  Illinois  is  situated  between  37  and  42 
degrees,  30  minutes,  north  latitude,  and  between  10 
degrees,  25  minutes,  and  14  degrees,  30  minutes,  west 
longitude  from  Washington  city.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Wisconsin  territory,  north  east  by  lake  Mi- 
chigan, east  by  Indiana,  south  east  and  south  by  Ken- 
tucky, and  west  by  the  state  and  territory  of  Missouri. 

Its  extreme  length  is  380  miles,  and  its  extreme  width, 
220  miles; — its  average  width,   150  miles.     The  area  of 
the  whole  state,  including  the  portion  of  lake  Michigan 
within  its  boundaries,  is  59,300  square  miles. 
1 


' 

up 


2  A    GAZETTEER 

This  resuit  has  been  obtained  after  a  careful  estimate 
of  the  surveyed  portions  in  the  land  districts,  and  calcu- 
lating the  remainder  by  its  medium  length  and  breadth. 
The  exact  length  of  its  northern  portion  is  now  ascer- 
tained from  the  continuation  of  the  fourth  principal 
meridian,  from  the  vicinity  of  Rock  river  to  the  north- 
ern boundary.  The  exact  length  of  the  northern  bound- 
ary from  the  Mississippi  at  the  north  western  corner  of 
the  state,  to  lake  Michigan,  is  144i  miles.  The  eastern 
boundary  leaves  the  Wabash  river  at  a  point  about  60 
miles  north  of  Vincennes,  and  continues  due  north  to 
the  northern  boundary  of  Indiana.  The  only  difficulty  in 
ascertaining  the  area  of  this  section  is  from  the  piece 
of  water  extending  north  and  east  of  the  northern 
boundary  of  Indiana,  which  has  been  estimated  from 
ascertaining  the  probable  width  of  the  lake  at  this 
part,  from  persons  best  acquainted  with  it.  The  north- 
ern boundary  line  extends  into  the  middle  of  lake  Mi- 
chigan. 

The  act  of  congress  authorising  the  people  of  Illinois 
to  form  a  state  government,  and  the  convention  in  fra- 
ming the  constitution,   described  the  following  as    the 
boundaries  of  the  state: 
^"Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash  river,  thence 

the  same,  and  with  the  line  of  Indiana,  to  the  north 
western 'corner  of  said  state;  thence  east  with  the  line  of 
the  same  state,  to  the  middle  of  lake  Michigan;  thence  north 
along  the  middle  of  said  lake,  to  north  latitude  42  degrees 
and  30  minutes;  thence  west  to  the  middle  of  the  Mis- 
sippi  river;  and  thence  down  along  the  middle  of  that 
river  to  its  confluence  with  the  Ohio  river;  and  thence 


OF    ILLINOIS.  3 

up  the  latter  river  along  its  north  western  shore  to  the 
beginning." 

Within  these  described  boundaries,  allowing  for  the 
curves  of  the  rivers,  are  not  less  than  59,300  square  miles, 
or  37,952,000  acres. 

The  water  area  of  the  state  is  computed  at  3,750square 
miles  as  follows: 

Square  Miles. 

Lake  Michigan 2,750 

One  half  of  the  Mississippi,  for  700  miles,  in- 
cluding its  meanderings,  at  the  ordinary 

stage  of  water 350 

Half  of  the  Wabash  river 50 

Estimates  for  small  lakes,  ponds,  and  rivers 

within  the  state 600 

3,750 

With  this,  deduct  5,550  square  miles  for  irreclaimable 
waste*,  and  there  is  left,  in  Illinois,  50,000  square  miles 
or  32  millions  of  acres  of  arable  land.  In  this  estimate, 
inundated  lands,  submerged  by  high  waters,  but  which 
may  be  reclaimed  at  a  moderate  expense,  are  included. 

FACE  OF  THE  COUNTRY,  AND  QUALITIES  OF  SOIL. 

THE  general  surface  is  level,  or  moderately  undu- 
lating; the  northern  and  southern  portions  are  broken, 
and  somewhat  hilly,  but  no  portion  of  the  state  is  tra- 
versed with  ranges  of  hills  or  mountains.  At  the  verge 
of  the  alluvial  soil  on  the  margins  of  rivers,  there  are 
ranges  of  "bluffs"  intersected  with  ravitfes.  The  bluffs 
are  usually  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high, 


4  A    GAZETTEER 

where  an  extended  surface  of  table  land  commences, 
covered  with  prairies  and  forests  of  various  shapes  and 
sizes. 

When  examined  minutely,  there  are  several  varieties 
in  the  surface  of  this  state  which  will  be  briefly  specified 
and  described. 

1.  Inundated  Lands.  I  apply  this  term  to  all  those 
portions,  which,  for  some  part  of  the  year,  are  under 
water.  These  include  portions  of  the  river  bottoms,  and 
portions  of  the  interior  of  large  prairies,  with  the  lakes 
and  ponds  which,  for  half  the  year  or  more,  are  without 
water.  The  term  "bottom,"  is  used  throughout  the  west 
to  denote  the  alluvialsoil  on  the  margin  of  rivers,  usually 
called  "intervals,"  in  New  England.  Portions  of  this 
description  of  land  are  flowed  for  a  longer  or  shorter 
period,  when  the  rivers  are  full.  Probably  one  eighth  of 
the  bottom  lands  are  of  this  description;  for  though  the 
water  may  not  stand  for  any  length  of  time,  it  wholly 
prevents  settlement  and  cultivation,  though  it  does  not 
interrupt  the  growth  of  timber  and  vegetation.  These 
tracts  are  on  the  bottoms  of  the  Wabash,  Ohio,  Missis- 
sippi, Illinois,  and  all  the  interior  rivers. 

When  the  rivers  rise  above  their  ordinary  height,  the 
waters  of 'the  smaller  streams,  which  are  backed  up  by 
the  freshets  of  the  former,  break  over  their  banks,  and 
coverall  the  low  grounds.  Here  they  stand  for  a  few 
days,  or  for  many  weeks,  especially  towards  the  blufls; 
for  it  is  a  striking  fact  in  the  geology  of  the  western 
country,  that  all  the  river  bottoms  are  higher  on  the 
margins  of  the  streams  than  at  some  distance  back. 
Whenever  increase  of  population  shall  create  a  demand 


OF    ILLINOIS.  5 

for  this  species  of  soil,  the  most  of  it  can  be  reclaimed 
at  comparatively  small  expense.  Its  fertility  will  be 
inexhaustible,  and  if  the  waters  from  the  rivers  could  be 
shut  out  by  dykes  or  levees,  the  soil  would  be  perfectly 
dry.  Most  of  the  small  lakes  on  the  American  bottom 
disappear  in  the  summer,  and  leave  a  deposit  of  vege- 
table matter  undergoing  decomposition,  or  a  luxuriant 
coat  of  weeds  and  grass. 

As  our  prairies  mostly  lie  between  the  streams  that 
drain  the  country,  the  interior  of  the  large  ones  are 
usually  level.  Here  are  formed  ponds  and  lakes  after 
the  winter  and  spring  rains,  which  remain  to  be  drawn 
off  by  evaporation,  or  absorbed  by  an  adhesive  soil. 
Hence  the  middle  of  our  large,  level  prairies  are  wet, 
and  for  several  weeks  portions  of  them  are  covered  with 
water.  To  remedy  this  inconvenience  completely,  and 
render  all  this  portion  of  soil  dry  and  productive,  only 
requires  a  ditch  or  drain  of  two  or  three  feet  deep  to  be 
cut  into  the  nearest  ravine.  In  many  instances  a  single 
furrow  with  the  plough,  would  drain  many  acres.  At 
present  this  species  of  inundated  land  offers  no  incon- 
venience to  the  people,  except  in  the  production  of 
miasm,  and  even  that,  perhaps,  becomes  too  much  di- 
luted with  the  atmosphere  to  produce  mischief  before  it 
reaches  the  settlements  on  the  borders  of  the  prairie. 
Hence  the  inference  is  correct  that  our  inundated  lands 
present  fewer  obstacles  to  the  settlement  and  growth 
of  the  country,  and  can  be  reclaimed  at  much  less  ex- 
pense, than  the  swamps  and  salt  marshes  of  the  Atlantic 
states.  tV 


6  A  GAZETTEER 

RIVER  BOTTOMS,  OR  ALLUVION. 

THE  surface  of  our  alluvial  bottoms  is  not  entirely 
level.  In  some  places  it  resembles  alternate  waves  of 
the  ocean,  and  looks  as  though  the  waters  had  left  their 
deposit  in  ridges,  and  retired. 

The  portion  of  bottom  land  capable  of  present  cultiva- 
tion, and  on  which  the  waters  never  stand,  if,  at  an 
extreme  freshet,  it  is  covered,  is  a  soil  of  exhaustless 
fertility;  a  soil  that  for  ages  past  has  been  gradually  de- 
posited by  the  annual  floods.  Its  average  depth  on  the 
American  bottom  is  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  feet. 
Logs  of  wood,  and  other  indications,  are  found  at  that 
depth.  The  soil  dug  from  wells  on  these  bottoms,  pro- 
duces luxuriantly  the  first  year. 

The  most  extensive  and  fertile  tract,  of  this  descrip- 
tion of  soil,  in  this  state,  is  the  American  Bottom,  a  name 
it  received  when  it  constituted  the  western  boundary  of 
the  United  States,  and  which  it  has  retained  ever  since. 
It  commences  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  five 
miles  below  the  town  of  Kaskaskia,  and  extends  north- 
wardly along  the  Mississippi  to  the  bluffs  at  Alton,  a 
distance  of  ninety  miles.  Its  average  width  is  five  miles, 
and  contains  about  450  square  miles,  or  238,000  acres. 
Opposite  St.  Louis,  in  St.  Clair  county,  the  bluffs  are 
seven  miles  from  the  river,  and  filled  with  inexhaustible 
beds  of  coal.  The  soil  of  this  bottom  is  an  argillaceous 
orasilecious  loam,  accordingly  as  clay  or  sand  happens 
to  predominate  in  its  formation. 

On  the  margin  of  the  river,  and  of  some  of  its  lakes,  is 
a  strip  of  heavy  timber,  with  a  thick  undergrowth,  which 


OF    ILLINOIS.  / 

extends  from  half  a  mile  to  two  miles  in  width,  but  from 
thence  to  the  bluffs,  it  is  principally  prairie.  It  is  inter- 
spersed with  sloughs,  lakes,  and  ponds,  the  most  of 
which  become  dry  in  the  fall  season* 

The  soil  of  the  American  bottom  is  inexhaustibly  rich. 
About  the  French  towns  it  has  been  cultivated,  and 
produced  corn  in  succession  for  more  than  a  century, 
without  exhausting  its  fertilizing  powers.  The  only 
objection  that  can  be  offered  to  this  tract  is  its  unhealthy 
character.  This,  however,  has  diminished  considerably 
within  eight  or  ten  years.  The  geological  feature  no- 
ticed in  the  last  article — that  all  our  bottoms  are  higher 
on  the  margin  of  the  stream  than  towards  the  bluffs, 
explains  the  cause  why  so  much  standing  water  is  on 
the  bottom  land,  which,  during  the  summer  stagnates 
and  throws  off  noxious  effluvia.  These  lakes  are  usually 
full  of  vegetable  matter  undergoing  decomposition,  and 
which  produces  large  quantities  of  miasm.  Some  of  the 
lakes  are  clear  and  of  a  sandy  bottom,  but  the  most  are 
of  a  different  character.  The  French  settled  near  a 
lake  or  a  river,  apparently  in  the  most  unhealthy  places, 
and  yet  their  constitutions  are  little  affected,  and  they 
usually  enjoy  good  health,  though  dwarfish  and  shrivelled 
in  their  form  and  features. 

"The  villages  of  Kaskaskia,  Prairie  du  Rocher,  and 
Cahokia,  were  built  up  by  their  industry  in  places  where 
Americans  would  have  perished.  Cultivation  has,  no 
doubt,  rendered  this  tract  more  salubrious  than  formerly; 
and  an  increase  of  it,  together  with  the  construction  of 
drains  and  canals,  will  make  it  one  of  the  most  eligible 
in  the  states.  The  old  inhabitants  advise  the  emigrants 


8  A    GAZETTEER 

not  to  plant  corn  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  their 
dwellings,  as   its  rich  and  massy  foliage  prevents    the  , 
sun  from  dispelling  the  deleterious  vapours."* 

These  lakes  and  ponds  could  be  drained  at  a  small 
expense,  and  the  soil  would  be  susceptible  of  cultivation. 
The  early  settlements  of  the  Americans  were  either  on 
this  bottom,  or  the  contiguous  bluffs. 

Besides  the  American  bottom,  there  are  others  that 
resemble  it  in  its  general  character,  but  not  in  extent. 
In  Union  county  there  is  an  extensive  bottom  on  the 
borders  of  the  Mississippi.  Above  the  mouth  of  the 
Illinois,  and  along  the  borders  of  the  counties  of  Cal- 
houn,  Pike,  and  Adams,  there  are  a  series  of  bottoms, 
with  much  good  and  elevated  land,  but  the  inundated 
grounds  around,  present  objections  to  a  dense  population 
at  present. 

The  bottoms  of  Illinois,  where  not  inundated,  are 
equal  in  fertility,  and  the  soil  is  less  adhesive  than  most 
parts  of  the  American  bottom.  This  is  likewise  the 
character  of  the  bottoms  in  the  northern  parts  of  the 
state. 

The  bottoms  of  the  Kaskaskia  are  generally  covered 
with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  and  in  many  places  inun- 
dated when  the  river  is  at  its  highest  floods. 

The  extensive  prairies  adjoining  will  create  a  demand 
for  all  this  timber.  The  bottom  lands  on  the  Wabash 
are  of  various  qualities.  Near  the  mouth,  much  of  it  is 
inundated.  Higher  up  it  overflows  in  high  freshets. 

These  bottoms,  especially  the  American,  are  the  best 


*Beck. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  9 

regions  in  the  United  States  for  raising  stock,  particu- 
larly horses,  cattle,  and  swine.  Seventy-five  bushels  of 
corn  to  the  acre  is  an  ordinary  crop.  The  roots  and 
worms  of  the  soil,  the  acorns  and  other  fruits  from  the 
trees,  and  the  fish  pf  the  lakes,  accelerate  the  growth  of 
swine.  Horses  and  cattle  find  exhaustless  supplies  of 
grass  in  the  prairies;  and  pea  vines,  buffalo  grass,  wild 
oats,  and  other  herbage  in  the  timber,  for  summer  range; 
and  often  throughout  most  of  the  winter.  In  all  the 
rush  bottoms,  they  fatten  during  the  severe  weather  on 
rushes.  The  bottom  soil  is  not  so  well  adapted  to  the 
production  of  small  grain,  as  of  maize  or  Indian  corn,  on 
account  of  its  rank  growth,  and  being  more  subject 
to  blast,  or  fall  down  before  harvest,  than  on  the  up- 
lands. 

3.  Prairies.  A  large  part,  probably  two  thirds  of  the 
surface  of  the  state,  is  covered  with  prairies.  A  com- 
mon error  has  prevailed  abroad  that  our  prairie  land  is 
wet.  Much  of  it  is  undulating  and  entirely  dry.  Prairie 
is  a  French  word,  signifying  meadow,  and  is  applied  to 
any  description  of  surface,  that  is  destitute  of  timber 
and  brushwood,  and  clothed  with  grass.  Wet,  dry,  level, 
and  undulating,  are  terms  of  description  merely,  and 
apply  to  prairies  in  the  same  sense  as  they  do  to  forest 
lands. 

Level  prairie  is  often  wet;  the  water  not  running  off 
freely  is  left  to  be  absorbed  by  the  soil,  or  evaporated  by 
the  sun.  Crawfish  throw  up  their  hillocks  in  this  soil, 
and  the  farmer  who  cultivates  it,  will  find  his  labors 
impeded  by  the  water. 

In    the   southern  part,  that  is,  south  of  the  national 


10  A    GAZETTEER 

road  leading  from  Terre  Haute  to  tbe  Mississippi,  the 
prairies  are  comparatively  small,  varying  in  size  from 
those  of  several  miles  in  width,  to  those  which  contain 
only  a  few  acres.  As  we  go  northward,  they  widen  and 
extend  on  the  more  elevated  ground  between  the  water 
courses  to  a  vast  distance,  and  are  frequently  from  six 
to  twelve  miles  in  width.  Their  borders  are  by  no  means 
uniform.  Long  points  of  timber  project  into  the  prai- 
ries, and  line  the  banks  of  the  streams,  and  points  of 
prairie  project  into  the  timber  between  these  streams. 
In  many  instances  are  copses  and  groves  of  timber, 
from  one  hundred  to  two  thousand  acres,  in  the  midst  of 
prairies,  like  islands  in  the  ocean.  This  is  a  common 
feature  in  the  country  between  the  Sangamon  river  and 
lake  Michigan,  and  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  state. 
The  lead  mine  region,  both  in  this  state  and  the  Wis- 
consin territory,. abounds  with  these  groves. 

The  origin  of  these  prairies  has  caused  much  specula- 
tion. We  might  as  well  dispute  about  the  origin  of 
forests,  upon  the  assumption  that  the  natural  covering 
of  the  earth  was  grass.  Probably  one  half  of  the  earth's' 
surface,  in  a  state  of  nature,  was  prairies  or  barrens. 
Much  of  it,  like  our  western  prairies,  was  covered  with 
a  luxuriant  coat  of  grass  and  herbage.  The  steppes  of 
Tartary,  the  pampas  of  South  America,  the  savannas 
of  the  southern,  and  the  prairies  of  the  western  states, 
designate  similar  tracts  of  country.  Mesopotamia,  Syria, 
and  Judea  had  their  ancient  prairies,  on  which  the  pa- 
triarchs fed  their  flocks.  Missionaries  in  Burmah,  and 
travellers  in  the  interior  of  Africa,  mention  the  same 
description  of  country.  Where  the  tough  sward  of  the 


OF    ILLINOIS.  1  1 

prairie  is  once  formed,  timber  will  not  take  root.  De- 
stroy this  by  the  plough,  or  by  any  other  method,  and  it 
is  soon  converted  into  forest  land,  There  are  large 
tracts  of  country  in  the  older  settlements,  where,  thirty 
or  forty  years  since,  the  farmers  mowed  their  hay,  that 
are  now  covered  with  a  forest  of  young  timber  of  rapid 
growth. 

The  fire  annually  sweeps  over  the  prairies,  destroying 
the  grass  and  herbage,  blackening  the  surface,  and  leav- 
ing a  deposit  of  ashes  to  enrich  the  soil. 

4.  Barrens.  This  term,  in  the  western  dialect,  does 
not  indicatepoor  land,  but  a  species  of  surface  of  a  mixed 
character,  uniting  forest  and  prairie. 

The  timber  is  generally  scattering,  of  a  rough  and 
stunted  appearance,  interspersed  with  patches  of  hazle 
and  brushwood,  a»d  where  the  contest  between  the  fire 
and  timber  is  kept  up,  each  striving  for  the  mastery. 

In  the  early  settlements  of  Kentucky,  much  of  the 
country  below  and  south  of  Green  river  presented  a 
dwarfish  and  stunted  growth  of  timber,  scattered  over 
the  surface,  or  collected  in  clumps,  with  hazle  and  shrub- 
bery intermixed.  This  appearance  led  the  first  ex- 
plorers to  the  inference  that  the  soil  itself  must  neces- 
sarily be  poor,  to  produce  so  scanty  a  growth  of  timber, 
and  they  gave  the  name  of  barrens  to  the  whole  tract  of 
country.  Long  since  it  has  been  ascertained  that  this 
description  of  land  is  amongst  the  most  productive  soil 
in  the  state.  The  term  barren  has  since  received  a  very 
extensive  application  throughout  the  west.  Like  all 
other  tracts  of  country,  the  barrens  present  a  consider- 
able diversity  of  soil.  In  general,  however,  the  surface 


12  A    GAZETTEER 

is  more  uneven  or  rolling  than  the  prairies,  and  sooner 
degenerates  into  ravines  and  sink-holes.  Wherever 
timber  barely  sufficient  for  present  purposes  can  be 
found,  a  person  need  not  hesitate  to  settle  in  the  bar- 
rens. These  tracts  are  almost  invariably  healthy;  they 
possess  a  greater  abundance  of  pure  springs  of  water, 
and  the  soil  is  better  adapted  for  all  kinds  of  produce, 
and  all  descriptions  of  seasons,  wet  and  dry,  than  the 
deeper  and  richer  mould  of  the  bottoms  and  prairies. 

When  the  fires  are  stopped,  these  barrens  produce 
timber,  at  a  rate  of  which  no  northern  emigrant  can  have 
any  just  conception.  Dwarfish  shrubs  and  small  trees  of 
oak  and  hickory  are  scattered  over  the  surface,  where 
for  years  they  have  contended  with  the  fires  for  a  pre- 
carious existence,  while  a  mass  of  roots,  sufficient  for 
the  support  of  large  trees,  have  accumulated  in  the 
earth.  Soon  as  they  are  protected  from  the  ravages  of 
the  annual  fires,  the  more  thrifty  sprouts  shoot  forth, 
and  in  ten  years  are  large  enough  for  corn  cribs  and 
s.tables. 

As  the  fires  on  the  prairies  become  stopped  by  the  sur- 
rounding settlements,  and  the  wild  grass  is  eaten  out 
and  trodden  down  by  the  stock,  they  begin  to  assume 
the  character  of  barrens;  first  hazle  and  other  shrubs, 
and  finally  a  thicket  of  young  timber,  covers  the  sur- 
face. 

5.  Forest,  or  timbered  land.  In  general,  Illinois  is 
abundantly  supplied  with  timber,  and  were  it  equally 
distributed  through  the  state  there  would  be  no  part 
wanting.  The  apparent  scarcity  of  timber  where  the 
prairie  predominates,  is  not  so  great  an  obstacle  to  the 


OF    ILLINOIS.  13 

settlement  as  has  been  supposed.  For  many  of  the  pur- 
poses to  which  limber  is  applied,  substitutes  are  found. 
The  rapidity  with  which  the  young  growth  pushes  itself 
forward,  without  a  single  effort  on  the  part  of  man  to 
accelerate  it,  and  the  readiness  with  which  the  prairie 
becomes  converted  into  thickets,  and  then  into  a  forest 
of  young  timber,  shows  that,  in  another  generation, 
timber  will  not  be  wanting  in  any  part  of  Illinois. 

The  kinds  of  timber  most  abundant  are  oaks  of  vari- 
ous species,  black  and  white  walnut,  ash  of  several 
kinds,  elm,  sugar  maple,  honey  locust,  hackberry,  lin- 
den, hickory,  cotton  wood,  pecan,  mulberry,  buckeye, 
sycamore,  wild  cherry,  box  elder,  sassafras,  and  persim- 
mon. In  the  southern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  state 
are  yellow  poplar,  and  beech;  near  the  Ohio  are  cypress, 
and  in  several  counties  are  clumps  of  yellow  pine  and 
cedar.  On  the  Calamick,  near  the  south  end  of  lake 
Michigan,  is  a  small  forest  of  white  pine.  The  under- 
growth are  redbud,  papaw,  sumach,  plum,  crab  apple, 
grape  vines,  dogwood,  spice  bush,  green  brier,  hazle,  &c. 

The  alluvial  soil  of  the  rivers  produces  cotton  wood 
and  sycamore  timber  of  amazing  size. 

For  ordinary  purposes  there  is  now  timber  enough  in 
most  parts  of  the  state,  to  say  nothing  about  the  arti- 
ficial production  of  timber,  which  may  be  effected  with 
little  trouble  and  expense.  The  black  locust,  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  may  be  raised  from  the  seed, 
with  less  labor  than  a  nursery  of  apple  trees.  It  is  of 
rapid  growth,  and,  as  a  valuable  and  lasting  timber, 
claims  the  attention  of  our  farmers.  It  forms  one  of 
the  cleanliest  and  most  beautiful  shades,  and  when  in 


14  A    GAZETTEER 

blossom,  gives  a  rich  prospect,  and  sends  abroad  a  de- 
licious fragrance. 

Knobs,  Bluffs,  Ravines,  and  Siiik-hcfles.  Under  these 
heads  are  included  tracts  of  uneven  country  found  in 
various  parts  of  the  state. 

Knobs  are  ridges  of  flint  limestone,  intermingled  and 
covered  with  earth,  and  elevated  one  or  two  hundred 
feet  above  the  common  surface.  This  species  of  land 
is  of  little  value  for  cultivation,  and  usually  has  a 
sprinkling  of  dwarfish,  stunted  timber,  like  the  barrens. 

The  steep  hills  and  natural  mounds  that  border  the 
alluvions  have  obtained  the  name  of  bluffs.  Some  are 
in  long,  parallel  ridges,  others  are  in  the  form  of  cones 
and  pyramids.  In  some  places  precipices  of  limestone 
rock,  from  fifty  to  one  or  two  hundred  feet  high,  form 
these  bluffs. 

Ravines  are  formed  amongst  the  bluffs,  and  often  near 
the  borders  of  prairies,  which  lead  down  to  the  streams. 

Sink-holes  are  circular  depressions  in  the  surface  like 
a  basin.  They  are  of  various  sizes,  from  ten  to  fifty  feet 
deep,  and  from  ten  to  one  or  two  hundred  yards  in  cir- 
cumference. Frequently  they  contain  an  outlet  for  the 
water  received  by  the  rains.  Their  existence  shows 
that  the  substratum  is  secondary  limestone,  abounding 
in  subterraneous  cavities. 

There  are  but  few  tracts  of  stony  ground  in  the  state; 
that  is,  where  loose  stones  are  scattered  over  the  sur- 
face, and  irr.bedded  in  the  soil.  Towards  the  northern 
part  of  the  state,  tracts  of  stony  ground  exist.  Qruar- 
ries  of  stone  exist  in  the  bluffs,  and  in  the  banks  of  the 
streams  and  ravines  throughout  the  state. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  15 

The  soil  is  porous,  easy  to  cultivate,  and  exceedingly 
productive.  A  strong  team  is  required  to  break  up  the 
prairies,  on  account  of  the  firm,-  grassy  sward  which 
covers  them.  But  when  subdued  they  become  fine, 
arable  lands. 

RIVERS    AND    LAKES. 

This  state  is  bounded  on  three  sides  by  the  Missis- 
sippi, Ohio,  and  Wabash  rivers.  The  Illinois,  Kas- 
kaskia,  Sangamon,  and  many  smaller  streams  are  en- 
tirely within  its  boundaries.  Others,  as  the  Kankakee, 
Rock  river,  and  Vermilion  of  the  Wabash,  run  part  of 
their  course  within  the  state. 

The  Mississippi,  which,  in  its  meanderings,  runs  about 
700  miles  along  its  western  border,  takes  its  rise  in 
Cedar  lake,  in  latitude  45  degrees  north. 

From  this  to  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony,  a  distance  of 
about  five  hundred  miles,  it  runs  a  devious  course,  first 
south  east;  then  south  west;  and,  finally,  south  east 
again;  which  last  it  continues  without  much  deviation, 
till  it  reaches  the  Missouri.  From  thence  its  course  is 
a  few  degrees  east  of  south  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio. 

The  appearance  and  character  of  the  Mississippi, 
above  and  below  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri,  are  so  dis- 
tinctly marked  as  to  lead  to  the  general  opinion  that 
the  former  is  but  a  branch  of  the  latter.  The  average 
width  of  the  Mississippi  proper,  is  from  one  half  to  one 
milej  and  its  current  generally  is  from  two  to  four  miles 
an  hour,  varying  according  to  the  height  and  volume  of 
the  water.  The  mean  descent  of  this  river  is  about  six 


16  A    GAZETTEER 

inches  per  mile.  Its  sources  are  estimated  by  Mr. 
Schoolcraft  to  be  1,3:-!0  feet  above  the  level  of  tide  water 
at  the  gulf  of  Mexico;  the  distance  being  computed 
at  3,000  miles.  Below  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri,  the 
water  of  the  Mississippi  has  the  turbid  appearance  of 
the  Missouri,  and  was  formerly  obstructed  with  snags 
and  sawyers.  These  obstructions  to  the  navigation  have 
been  partially  removed  by  the  enterprising  Captain 
Shreve  and  his  snag  boat,  in  the  employment  of  the 
general  government,  and  the  trees  that  form  these  ob- 
structions have  been  cut  away  from  its  banks. 

The  principal  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi,  within 
the  state  of  Illinois,  are  Rock,  Illinois,  Kaskaskia  and 
Muddy  rivers.  The  aboriginal  name,  (of  which  the  an- 
cient sound  and  spelling  in  French  appears  to  have  been 
J\Ieate-Chassippi,}  is  said  to  signify  "Father  of  waters"  or 
"  Great  waters." 

The  Ohio  river,  which  washes  the  southern  boundary 
of  Illinois,  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Allegheny 
and  Monongahela  rivers  at  Pittsburgh,  and  after  run- 
<y>ing  a  southwestern  course  1,100  miles,  unites  with  the 
Mississippi  at  the  extreme  south  end  of  the  state.  At 
the  confluence  of  these  rivers,  as  is  the  case  with  most 
other  rivers  in  the  west,  there  is  an  extensive  and  re- 
cently formed  alluvion,  which  is  annually  inundated,  and 
which  cannot,  without  much  expense,  be  made  a  town 
site.  Below  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash,  no  large  streams 
enter  the  Ohio  from  Illinois.  Saline,  Big  Bay,  and 
Cash,  are  the  largest. 

The  Wabsh  river  rises  in  the  northeastern  part  of  In- 
diana, and  running  first  a  south  western,  and  then  a 


or  ILLINOIS.  17 

south  course,  it  enters  the  Ohio  about  200  miles  above 
its  mouth.  It  is  a  beautiful  stream,  and  at  high  water 
is  navigated  by  steam  boats  as  far  as  Logansport  in  In- 
diana. Its  head  waters  approach  within  a  short  dis- 
tance of  the  waters  of  the  Maumee  of  lake  Erie,  with 
which  a  canal  navigation  is  now  being  constructed 
under  the  authority  of  the  state  of  Indiana. 

About  twenty  miles  below  Vincennes,  and  near  the 
junction  of  White  river,  are  considerable  rapids,  which 
obstruct  the  navigation  in  low  water.  Funds  in  part 
have  been  provided  and  measures  are  in  train  by  the 
two  states  to  improve  the  navigation  at  this  place.  The 
character  of  the  lands  and  soil  bordering  on  the  Wabash 
does  not  differ  materially  from  that  on  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi;  only  there  is  more  sandy  soil,  and  its  bot- 
toms are  more  subject  to  inundation.  In  this  region, 
and  especially  in  Lawrence  and  Crawford  counties, 
there  are  some  swamps,  called  by  travelers  purgatories. 

The  principal  tributaries  of  the  Wabash  within  the 
state  of  Illinois,  are  the  Vermilion,  Embarrass,  and 
Little  Wabash  rivers. 

The  Illinois,  Kaskaskia,  Rock,  and  other  rivers  within 
the  state  will  be  described  under  their  respective 
names  in  the  third  part  of  this  work.  Lake  Michigan 
is  the  only  lake  deserving  of  special  notice.  There  are 
several  other  lakes  in  different  parts  of  the  state,  but 
they  are  small  and  unimportant,  and  rather  deserve  the 
name  of  ponds.  A  portion  of  lake  Michigan  is  included 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  state,  and  affords  a  medium 
of  communication  with  the  northern  states  and  Canada. 
It  is  about  280  miles  long  and  its  medium  width  is  about 
2 


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Creek, 

01  Apple  Creek,  Phttswdle, 

GJLLKX&  aj»i  vicnity, 


20  A   GAZETTEER 

Cave  Diggings,  Madden's, 

Buncombe,  Mineral  Point, 

Natches,  Dodgevilie, 

Hardscrabble,  Worke's  Diggings, 

New  Diggings,  Brisbos, 

Gratiot's  Grove,  Blue  Mound, 

Spulburg,  Prairie  Springs, 

W.  S.  Hamilton's,  Hammett  &  Campbell's, 

Cottle's,  Morrison's. 
Me  Nutt's. 

AMOUNT    OF    LEAD    MANUFACTURED. 

For  many  years  the  Indians,  and  some  of  the  French 
hunters  and  traders,  had  been  accustomed  to  dig  lead  in 
these  regions.  They  never  penetrated  much  below  the 
surface,  but  obtained  considerable  quantities  of  the  ore, 
which  they  sold  to  the  traders. 

In  1821,  the  late  Col.  James  Johnson,  of  Great  Cross- 
ings, Ky.  and  brother  to  the  Hon.  R.  M.  Johnson,  ob- 
tained a  lease  of  the  United  States  government,  and 
made  arrangements  to  prosecute  the  business  of  smelt- 
ing, with  considerable  force,  which  he  did  the  following 
season.  This  attracted  the  attention  of  enterprising 
men  in  Illinois,  Missouri,  and  other  states.  Some  went 
on  in  1826,  more  followed  in  1827,  and  in  1828  the  coun- 
try was  almost  literally  filled  with  miners,  smelters, 
merchants,  speculators,  gamblers,  and  every  description 
of  character.  Intelligence,  enterprise,  and  virtue,  were 
thrown  in  the  midst  of  dissipation,  gaming,  and  every 
species  of  vice.  Such  was  the  crowd  of  adventurers  in 
1S2Q,  to  this  hitherto  almost  unknown  and  desolate  re- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  21 

gion,  that  the  lead  business  was  greatly  overdone,  and 
the  market  for  awhile  nearly  destroyed.  Fortunes  were 
made  almost  upon  a  turn  of  the  spade,  and  lost  with 
«qual  facility.  The  business  is  now  reviving,  and  pro- 
bably will  be  prosecuted  in  future  more  in  proportion  to 
the  demand  for  lead.  Exhaustless  quantities  of  mine- 
ral exists  here,  over  a  tract  of  country  two  hundred 
miles  in  extent. 

The, following  table  shows  the  amount  of  lead  made 
annually  at  these  diggings,  from  1821,  to  Sept.  30,  1833. 


Lbs.  of  lead  made  from  1821,  to  Sept. 

1823,       335,130 

Do.  for  the 

year  ending  Sept.  30, 

1824,        175,220 

Do. 

do.                   do. 

1825,       664,530 

Do. 

do.                   do. 

1826,       958,842 

Do. 

do.                   do. 

1827,    5,182,1SO 

Do. 

do.                   do. 

1828,  11,105,810 

Do. 

do.                   do. 

1829,  13,344,150 

Do. 

do.                   do. 

1830,    8,323,998 

Do. 

do.                   do. 

1831,    6,381,900 

Do. 

do.                  do. 

1832,    4,281,876 

Do. 

do.                   do. 

1833,    7,941,792 

Total   58,694,488 

The  total  amount  of  rent  accruing  to  government  for 
the  above  period,  is  5,246,839  pounds. 

The  government  formerly  received  10  per  cent,  in  lead 
for  rent.  It  is  nowneduced  to  six  per  cent.  These  lands 
will  soon  be  surveyed,  and  probably  sold,  which  will  add 
greatly  to  the  stability  and  prosperity  of  the  mining 
business. 


22  A    GAZETTEER 

CoaL  I  have  already  mentioned  that  stone  coal  a- 
bounds  in  Illinois.  It  may  be  seen  frequently  in  the 
ravines  and  gullies,  and  in  the  points  of  bluffs.  Ex- 
haustless  beds  of  this  article  exist  in  the  bluffs  of  St. 
Clair  county,  bordering  on  the  American  bottom,  of 
which  large  quantities  are  transported  to  St.  Louis  for 
fuel.  It  sells  in  St.  Louis  from  ten  to  twelve  and  a  half 
cents  per  bushel.  About  twenty  large  ox  wagons  are 
employed  most  of  the  year  in  hauling  it  to  market,  the 
distance  of  seven  miles  across  the  American  bottom. 
One  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  bushels  were  hauled  to 
this  market  in  1833.  There  is  scarcely  a  county  in  the 
state,  but  what  can  furnish  coal  in  reasonable  quantities. 
Large  beds  are  said  to  exist  near  the  Vermilion  of  the 
Illinois,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  rapids  of  the  latter. 

Agatizcd  Wood.  A  petrified  tree,  of  black  walnut, 
was  found  in  the  bed  of  the  river  Des  Plaines,  about  forty 
rods  above  its  junction  with  the  Kankakee,  imbedded  in 
a  horizontal  position,  in  a  stratum  of  sandstone.  There 
is  fifty- one  and  a  half  feet  of  the  trunk  visible — eighteen 
inches  in  diameter  at  its  smallest  end,  and  probably  three 
feet  at  the  other  end. 

Muriate  of  Soda,  or  common  salt.  This  is  found  in 
various  parts  of  the  state,  held  in  solution  in  the  springs. 
The  manufacture  of  salt  by  boiling  and  evaporation  is 
carried  on  in  Gallatin  county,  twelve  miles  west  north 
west  from  Shawneetown;  in  Jackson  county,  near 
Brownsville;  and  in  Vermilion  county,  near  Danville. 
The  springs  and  land  are  owned  by  the  state,  and 
the  works  leased.  A  more  specific  description  will  be 
given  under  the  head  of  manufactures. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  23 

A  coarse  freestone,  much  used  in  building,  is  dug  from 
quarries  near  Alton,  on  the  Mississippi,  where  large 
bodies  exist. 

Scattered  over  the  surface  of  our  prairies,  are  large 
masses  of  rock,  of  granitic  formation,  roundish  in  form, 
usually  called  by  the  people  l(lost  rocks."  They  will 
weigh  from  one  thousand  to  ten  or  twelve  thousand 
pounds,  and  are  entirely  detached,  and  frequently  are 
found  several  miles  distant  from  any  quarry.  Nor  has 
there  ever  been  a  quarry  of  granite  discovered  in  the 
state.  These  stones  are  denominated  boulders  in  mine- 
ralogy. That  they  exist  in  various  parts  of  Illinois  is  an 
undoubted  truth;  and  that  they  are  of  a  species  of  gra- 
nite is  equally  true,  as  I  have  specimens  to  show.  They 
usually  lie  on  the  surface,  or  are  partially  imbedded  in 
the  soil  of  our  prairies,  which  is  unquestionably  of  dilu- 
vial formation.  How  they  came  here  is  a  question  of  diffi- 
cult solution. 

Medicinal  Waters,  are  found  in  different  parts  of  the 
state.  These  are  chiefly  sulphur  springs  and  chalybeate 
waters.  There  is  said  to  be  one  well  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  state  strongly  impregnated  with  the  sulphate 
of  magnesia,  or  Epsom  salts,  from  which  considerable 
quantities  have  been  made  for  sale,  by  simply  evapo- 
rating the  water,  in  a  kettle,  over  a  common  fire. 

There  are  several  sulphur  springs  in  Jefferson  county, 
to  which  persons  resort  for  health. 

Vegetable  Productions.  The  principal  trees  and  shrubs 
of  Illinois  have  been  noticed  under  the  head  of  "Forest 
or  timbered  land."  Of  oaks  there  are  several  species,  as 
overcup,  burr  oak,  swamp  or  water  oak,  white  oak,  red 


24  A    GAZETTEER 

or  Spanish  oak,  post  oak,  and  black  oak  of  several  va- 
rieties, with  the  black  jack,  a  dwarfish,  knarled  looking 
tree,  excellent  for  fuel,  but  good  for  nothing  else. 

The  black  walnut  is  much  used  for  building  materials 
and  cabinet  work,  and  sustains  a  fine  polish. 

In  most  parts  of  the  state,  grape  vines,  indigenous  to 
the  country,  are  abundant,  which  yield  grapes  which 
might  advantageously  be  made  into  excellent  wine. 
Foreign  vines  are  susceptible  of  easy  cultivation.  These 
are  cultivated  to  a  considerable  extent  at  Vevay,  Swit- 
zerland county,  Indiana,  and  at  New  Harmony  on  the 
Wabash.  The  indigenous  vines  are  prolific,  and  produce 
excellent  fruit.  They  are  found  in  every  variety  of 
soil;  interwoven  in  every  thicket  in  the  prairies  and 
barrens;  and  climbing  to  the  tops  of  the  very  highest 
trees  on  the  bottoms.  The  French  in  early  times  made 
so  much  wine  as  to  export  some  to  France;  upon  which 
the  proper  authorities  prohibited  the  introduction  of 
wine  from  Illinois,  lest  it  might  injure  the  sale  of  that 
staple  article  of  the  kingdom.  I  have  not  the  document 
at  hand  that  will  attest  this  fact,  but  of  its  truth  there 
is  no  doubt,  and  I  think  the  act  was  passed  by  the  board 
of  trade, in  1774. 

The  editor  of  the  Illinois  Magazine  remarks,  "We 
know  one  gentleman  who  made  twenty-seven  barrels  of 
wine  in  a  single  season,  from  the  grapes  gathered  with 
but  little  labor,  in  his  immediate  neighborhood." 

The  wild  plum  is  found  in  every  part  of  the  state;  but 
in  most  instances  the  fruit  is  too  sour  for  use,  unless 
for  preserves.  Crab  apples  are  equally  prolific,  and 
make  fine  preserves  with  about  double  their  bulk  of  su- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  25 

gar.  Wild  cherries  are  equally  productive.  The  persim- 
mon is  a  delicious  fruit,  after  the  frost  has  destroyed  its 
astringent  properties.  The  black  mulberry  grows  in 
most  parts,  and  is  used  for  the  feeding  of  silk  worms 
with  success.  They  appear  to  thrive  and  spin  as  well  as 
on  the  Italian  mulberry.  The  gooseberry,  strawberry, 
and  blackberry  grow  wild  and  in  great  profusion.  Of  our 
nuts,  the  hickory,  black  walnut,  and  pecan  deserve 
notice.  The  last  is  an  oblong,  thin  shelled,  delicious 
nut,  that  grows  on  a  large  tree,  a  species  of  the  hickory, 
(the  Carya  olivce  formis  of  Nuttall.)  The  papaw  grows 
in  the  bottoms,  and  rich,  timbered  uplands,  and  pro- 
duces a  large,  pulpy,  and  luscious  fruit.  Of  domestic 
fruits,  the  apple  and  peach  are  chiefly  cultivated.  Pears 
are  tolerably  plenty  in  the  French  settlements,  and 
quinces  are  cultivated  with  success  by  some  Americans. 
Apples  are  easily  cultivated,  and  are  very  productive. 
They  can  be  made  to  bear  fruit  to  considerable  advan- 
tage in  seven  years  from  the  seed.  Many  varieties  are 
of  fine  flavor,  and  grow  to  a  large  size.  I  have  mea- 
sured apples,  the  growth  of  St.  Glair  county,  that  ex- 
ceeded thirteen  inches  in  circumference.  Some  of  the 
early  American  settlers  provided  orchards.  They  now 
reap  the  advantages.  But  a  large  proportion  of  the 
population  of  the  frontiers  are  content  without  this 
indispensable  article  in  the  comforts  of  a  yankee  far- 
mer. Cider  is  made  in  small  quantities  in  the  old 
settlements.  In  a  few  years  a  supply  of  this  beverage 
can  be  had  in  most  parts  of  Illinois. 

Peach  trees  grow  with  great  rapidity,  and  decay  pro- 
portionably  soon.      From  ten  to  fifteen  years  may    be 


26  A    GAZETTEER 

considered  the  life  of  this  tree.  Our  peaches  are  deli- 
cious, but  they  sometimes  fail  by  being  destroyed  in 
the  germ  by  winter  frosts.  The  bud  swells  prematurely. 
In  the  severity  of  the  winter  of  1830-31  most  of  the 
young  buds,  and  in  some  instanc  es  the  limbs  of  the  trees, 
were  destroyed. 

Garden  Vegetables  can  be  produced  here  in  vast  pro- 
fusion, and  of  excellent  quality. 

That  we  have  few  of  the  elegant  and  well  dressed  gar- 
dens of  gentlemen  in  the  old  states,  is  admitted;  which 
is  not  owing  to  climate,  or  Soil,  but  to  the  want  of 
leisure  and  means. 

Our  Irish  potatoes,  pumpkins  and  squashes  are  infe- 
rior, but  not  our  cabbages,  peas,  beets,  or  onions. 

The  following  remarks  from  the  Illinois  Magazine, 
and  from  the  pen  of  the  editor,  will  furnish  all  necessa- 
ry information  on  this  subject. 

"Soil  and  climate  are  the  most  important  agents  in 
rearing  fine  vegetables;  but  these  luxuries  are,  after 
all,  mainly  produced  by  the  wealth,  the  labor,  and  the 
ingenuity  of  man.  In  new  countries,  therefore,  they 
are  not  to  be  expected.  Few  persons  here,  we  might 
say  none,  have  money  and  leisure  to  expend  on  matters 
of  taste  and  luxury.  Farmers,  especially,  are  apt  to 
commit  this  department  to  the  females  of  their  house- 
hold, whese  other  cares  allow  them  to  devote  to  it  but 
little  care.  We  plead  guilty,  then,  as  a  general  fact 
of  having  bad  gardens.  But  we  by  no  means  admit  that 
our  vegetables  are  deficient,  either  in  abundance  or 
quality,  when  proper  care  is  paid  to  their  culture.  We 
know  that  the  contrary  is  true.  The  simple  fact  is, 


OF    ILLINOIS.  27 

that  our  country  teems  with  the  bounties  of  nature  in 
such  rich  profusion,  that  people  not  being  obliged  to 
labor  to  supply  their  tables,  are  apt  to  grow  careless. 
They  put  their  seed  in  the  ground,  and  trust  to  Provi- 
dence to  give  the  increase.  Their  garden  grounds  are 
not  only  badly  prepared,  and  as  badly  attended,  but  the 
seeds  are  selected  without  any  care.  The  reason, 
therefore,  why,  as  a  general  fact,  the  art  of  horticulture 
lias  been  brought  to  but  little  perfection  at  the  west,  is 
evident. 

"But  when  it  is  said  that  the  vegetables  of  this  coun- 
try are  inferior  in  quality,  we  come  to  another  question, 
to  decide  which,  it  is  proper  to  refer  to  the  cases  in 
which  they  have  been  subjected  to  a  sufficient  degree  of 
culture.  Almost  every  farmer  here  raises  cabbages, 
and  we  are  sure  that  we  have  never  seen  larger  or  bet- 
ter. A  hundred  heads  are  sold  at  Vandalia  for  a  dollar 
and  fifty  cents.  The  parsnips  and  carrots  of  this  coun- 
try are  remarkable  for  their  size,  sweetness,  and  flavor; 
the  former,  especially,  have  a  richness  which  we  have 
never  noticed  elsewhere.  Our  beets  are  as  delicate  and 
sweet  as  possible;  and  we  only  forbear  stating  a  fact  with 
regard  to  their  size,  which  has  come  to  our  knowledge, 
from  the  fear  of  startling  the  credulity  of  our  readers. 
Peas  are  excellent,  and  very  prolific.  We  had  a  radish 
on  our  table  a  few  days  ago,  [November]  which  was  three 
inches  in  thickness,  and  perfectly  solid,  mild,  and'crisp. 
Our  lettuce,  if  well  dressed,  (there  is  a  great  deal  in 
that,)  is  capital.  The  tomato  is  common  all  through 
this  country.  It  is  only  necessary  to  plant  it  once, 
after  which  it  comes  up  every  year  spontaneously,  and 


28  A    GAZETTEER 

bears  abundantly  from  the  middle  of  the  summer,  till 
nipped  by  the  frost.  Thousands  of  bushels  of  onions 
have  been  raised  with  no  other  labor  than  sowing  the 
seed  broadcast,  in  new  ground;  and  as  to  their  quality, 
it  would  do  the  heart  of  a  Wethersfield  lady  good  to  look 
at  them.  That  goodly  town  of  Connecticut  would  be 
depopulated,  if  its  worthy  inhabitants  could  see  the 
onion  fields  of  Morgan  county  and  the  Military  tract. 
We  might  enumerate  other  articles;  but  it  is  enough  to 
say  that,  in  general,  the  vegetables  suited  to  our  cli- 
mate, are  produced  in  their  greatest  perfection.  It 
would,  indeed,  be  an  anomaly  in  the  economy  of  nature, 
if  garden  plants  did  not  flourish  vigorously  in  a  soil  of 
unrivalled  depth,  fertility,  and  freshness. 

"  While  we  are  on  the  subject  of  gardening,"  continues 
Judge  Hall,  "it  may  not  be  amiss  to  publish  some  memo- 
randums, which  we  made  last  spring,  [1830,]  and  which 
will  give  some  idea  of  the   forwardness  of  our  seasons. 
April  1.     Peach  trees  in  bloom. 

2.  Asparagus  fit  for  the  table. 

3.  Peas,  beans,  and  onions  planted. 

6.  Heart's  ease  and  violets  in  bloom. 

7.  Beets,  carrots,  parsnips,  and  other  roots 

planted. 
10.     Spring  had  completely  opened;  and  the 

prairies    were  green.     Gooseberry   and 

currant  bushes  in  bloom. 
15.     Cabbage  plants  transplanted. 

18.  Lilac  and  strawberries  in  bloom. 

19.  A  great  variety   of  wild  flowers  in  full 

bloom. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  29 

April  20.     Nearly  all   our    garden  seeds    had  been 

planted. 

25.     Raspberries  in  bloom. 
27.     Lettuce,  radishes,   and   pepper  grass  fit 

for  use. 

30.     Roses  and  honey  suckles  in  full  bloom. 
None  of  the  above  articles  were  injured  by  frost." 
A  cabbage  head  three  feet  in  diameter  or  nine  feet 
in  circumference,   is   no  wonder  on  this  soil.     Beets 
often  exceed  twelve   inches  in  circumference.     Pars- 
nips will  penetrate  our  light,  porous  soil,  to  the  depth  of 
two  or  three  feet. 

The  cultivated  vegetable  productions  in  the  fteld,  are 
maize  or  Indian  corn,  wheat,  oats,  barley,  buckwheat, 
Irish  potatoes,  sweet  potatoes,  turnips,  rye  for  horse 
feed  and  distilleries,  tobacco,  cotton,  hemp,  flax,  the 
castor  bean,  and  every  other  production  common  to  the 
middle  states. 

Maize  is  a  staple  production.  No  farmer  can  live 
without  it,  and  hundreds  raise  little  else.  This  is 
chiefly  owing  to  the  ease  with  which  i^^cultivated. 
Its  average  yield  is  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre.  I  have 
oftentimes  seen  it  produce  seventy-five  bushels  to  the 
acre,  and  in  a  few  instances,  exceed  one  hundred. 

Wheat  yields  a  good  and  sure  crop,  especially  in  the 
counties  bordering  on  the  Illinois  river.  It  weighs 
upwards  of  60  pounds  per  bushel,  and  flour  from  this 
region  has  preference  in  the  New  Orleans  market,  and 
passes  better  inspection  than  the  same  article  from 
Ohio  or  Kentucky. 

In  1925,  the  weavel,  for  the  first  time,  made  its  ap- 


30  A    GAZETTEER 

pearance  in  St.  Clair  and  the  adjacent  counties,  and 
has  occasionally  renewed  its  visits  since.  Within  the 
two  last  seasons,  some  fields  have  been,  injured  by 
the  fly. 

A  common  but  slovenly  practice  amongst  our  far- 
mers, is,  to  sow  wheat  amongst  the  standing  corn,  in 
September,  and  cover  it  by  running  a  few  furrows  with 
the  plough  between  the  rows  of  corn.  The  dry  stalks 
are  then  cut  down  in  the  spring,  and  left  on  the  ground. 
Even  by  this  imperfect  mode,  fifteen  or  twenty  bushels 
of  wheat  to  the  acre  are  produced.  But  where  the 
ground  is  duly  prepared  by  fallowing,  and  the  seed  put 
in  at  the  proper  time,  a  good  crop,  averaging  from  twen- 
ty-five to  thirty-five  bushels  per  acre,  rarely  fails  to  be 
procured. 

The  average  price  of  wheat  is  fifty  cents  per  bushel, 
varying  a  little  according  to  the  competition  of  mills 
and  facilities  to  market.  In  many  instances  a  single 
crop  of  wheat  will  pay  the  expenses  of  purchasing  the 
land,  fencing,  breaking  the  prairie,  seed,  putting  in  the 
crop,  harvesting,  threshing,  and  taking  it  to  market. 
Wheat  is  now  frequently  sown  on  the  prairie  land  as  a 
first  crop,  and  a  r.  v?d  yield  obtained. 

Flouring  mills  are  now  in  operation  in  many  of  the 
wheat  growing  counties.  Steam  power  is  getting  into 
extensive  use  both  for  sawing  and  manufacturing  flour. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  so  few  of  our  farmers  have 
erected  barns  for  the  security  of  their  crops.  No  ar- 
ticle is  more  profitable,  and  really  more  indispensable 
to  a  farmer,  than  a  large  barn. 

Oats  have  not  been  much  raised  till  lately.     They  are 


OP    ILLINOIS.  31 

very  productive,  often  yielding  from  forty  to  fifty  bushels 
on  the  acre,  and  usually  sell  from  seventeen  to  twenty- 
five  cents  the  bushel.  The  demand  for  the  use  of  stage 
and  travelers'  horses  is  increasing-. 

Hemp  is  an  indigenous  plant  in  the  southern  part  of 
this  state,  as  it  is  in  Missouri.  It  has  not  been  exten- 
sively cultivated,  but  wherever  tried,  is  found  very  pro- 
ductive, and  of  an  excellent  quality.  It  might  be  made 
a  staple  of  the  country. 

Tobacco,  though  a  filthy  and  noxious  weed,  which  no 
human  being  ought  ever  to  use,  can  be  produced  in  any 
quantity,  and  of  the  first  quality,  in  Illinois.  "From 
the  county  of  Wayne,  a  good  many  hogsheads  have  been 
annually  exported  for  some  years  past;  and  the  result  of 
the  experiment  has  been  altogether  satisfactory.  It 
has  been  raised  to  some  extent  throughout  the  southern 
counties.  A  few  hogsheads,  which  were  sent  from  Ran- 
dolph county  to  New  Orleans,  some  years  since,  were 
pronounced  by  the  inspector  to  be  the  best  ever  brought 
to  that  market.  We  could  not  adduce  a  stronger  proof 
than  this  in  favor  of  our  soil  and  climate.  The  tobacco 
plant,  although  coarse  in  its  appearance,  is  one  of  the 
most  delicate  in  the  vegetable  kingdom.  It  thrives 
only  in  a  rich,  light,  and  warm  soil.  It  requires  to  be 
planted  early  in  the  spring,  and  it  is  gathered  late  in 
autumn.  In  every  stage  of  its  growth  it  needs  culture 
and  attention,  and  is,  at  all  times,  sensitive  to  cold,  and 
easily  destroyed  by  frost.  When  we  say,  therefore,  as 
we  are  authorised  by  repeated  experiments,  that  ours  is 
one  of  the  best  tobacco  countries  in  the  world,  we  pro- 


A    GAZETTEER 

duce  the  strongest  evidence  of  the  fertility  of  our  soil, 
and  the  mildness  of  our  climate."* 

Cotton,  for  many  years,  has  been  successfully  culti- 
vated in  this  state  for  domestic  use,  and  some  for  ex- 
portation. Two  or  three  spinning  factories  are  in 
operation,  and  produce  cotton  yarn  from  the  growth  of 
the  country  with  promising  success.  This  branch  of 
business  admits  of  enlargement,  and  invites  the  attention 
of  eastern  manufacturers  with  small  capital.  Much  of 
the  cloth  made  in  families  who  have  emigrated  from 
states  south  of  the  Ohio  is  from  the  cotton  of  the  country. 

Flax  is  produced,  and  of  a  tolerable  quality,  but  not 
equal  to  that  of  the  northern  states.  It  is  said  to  be 
productive  and  good  in  the  northern  counties.  There 
is  an  oil  mill  to  manufacture  oil  from  the  seed,  in  Sanga- 
nion  county. 

Barley  is  raised  in  St.  Clair  county  for  the  St.  Louis 
breweries.  It  yields  well,  is  a  sure  crop,  and  sells  in 
8t.  Louis  from  thirty  seven  and  a  half  to  fifty  cents  per 
bushel. 

The  palma  christi,  or  castor  oil  bean,  is  produced  iu 
considerable  quantities  in  Madison,  Randolph,  and  other 
counties,  and  large  quantities  of  oil  are  expressed  and 
sent  abroad.  About  twelve  thousand  gallons  have  been 
made  in  Edwardsville  in  a  season.  The  bean  is  a  more 
profitable  crop  to  the  farmer  than  corn,  finds  a  ready 
market,  and  sells  from  seventy-five  cents  to  one  dollar 
per  bushel. 

Sweet  Potatoes  area  delicious  root,  and  yield  abundant- 

*Illinois  Magazine,  p.  127. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  33 

ly,  especially  on  the  American  bottom,  and  rich  sandy 
prairies.  A- 

But  little  has  been  done  to  introduce  cultivated 
grasses.  The  prairie  grass  looks  coarse  and  unsavory, 
and  yet  our  horses  and  cattle  will  thrive  well  on  it.  It 
is  already  known  to  the  reader  that  this  grass  disappears 
when  the  settlements  extend  round  a  prairie,  and  the 
cattle  eat  off  the  young  growth  in  the  spring.  Conse- 
quently in  a  few  years,  the  natural  grass  no  longer 
exists.  This,  however,  can  be  preserved  by  fencing  in 
a  tract  of  fresh  prairie,  and  mowing  it  regularly  every 
season,  or  burning  it  over  in  the  fall.  In  this  way,  ex- 
cellent meadows  can  be  kept  forever.  Jt  is  thought  by 
some  that  the  seed  might  be  gathered  in  the  fall,  sown 
on  land  that  had  been  kept  free  from  weeds,  and  by 
these  means,  meadows  of  the  natural  grass  of  the  coun- 
try might  be  formed. 

It  is  to  btf  regretted  that  so  few  have  thought  of  pro- 
viding themselves  with  natural  meadows  of  fifty  or  more 
acres  to  each  plantation,  by  a  process  so  cheap  as  that 
of  fencing  in  the  prairie,  before  the  cattle  had  subdued 
the  natural  grass,  and  preserving  it  with  a  very  little 
care,  in  a  perfectly  natural  state. 

Timothy  grass  begins  to  be  cultivated  with  success. 
For  the  first  three  or  four  years  of  my  residence  in  this 
country,  it  was  doubtful  whether  clover,  timothy,  or  any 
other  cultivated  grasses  could  be  made  profitable  for 
meadows  in  this  rich  soil  and  dry  climate.  I  observed 
that  in  attempts  to  make  meadows,  the  weeds  soon  over- 
run the  grass.  But  this  notion  was  entirely  incorrect. 
To  produce  timothy  with  success,  the  ground  must  be 
3 


34  A    GAZETTEER 

well  cultivated  in  the  summer,  either  by  an  early  crop, or 
by  fallowing,  and  the  seed-sown  about  the  20th  of  Sep- 
tember, at  the  rate  of  teitw  twelve  quarts  of  clean  seed  to 
the  acre,  and  lightly  brushed  in. 

If  the  season  is  in  any  way  favorable,  it  will  get  a 
rapid  start  before  winter.  By  the  last  week  in  June, 
it  will  produce  two  tons  per  acre,  of  the  finest  of  hay. 
It  then  requires  a  dressing  of  stable  or  yard  manure, 
and  occasionally  the  turf  may  be  scratched  with  a  har- 
row, to  prevent  the  roots  from  binding  too  hard.  By 
this  process,  timothy  meadows  may  be  made  and  pre- 
served. There  are  meadows  in  St.  Clair  county,  which 
have  yielded  heavy  crops  of  hay  in  succession,  for  seve- 
ral years,  and  bid  fair  to  continue  for  an  indefinite 
period.  Cattle,  and  especially  horses,  should  never  be 
permitted  to  run  in  meadows  in  Illinois.  The  fall  grass 
may  be  cropped  down  by  calves  and  colts.  There  is 
but  a  little  more  labor  required  to  produce  a  crop  of 
timothy,  than  a  crop  of  oats,  and  as  there  is  not  a  stone 
or  a  pebble  to  interrupt,  the  soil  may  be  turned  up  every 
third  or  fourth  year  for  corn,  and  afterwards  laid  down 
to  grass  again. 

A  species  of  blue  grass  is  cultivated  by  some  farmers 
for  pastures.  If  well  set,  and  not  eaten  down  in  sum- 
mer, blue  grass  pastures  may  be  kept  green  and  fresh 
till  late  in  autumn,  or  even  in  the  winter.  The  English 
spire  grass  has  been  cultivated  with  success  in  the 
Wabash  country. 

Of  the  trefoil,  or  clover,  there  is  but  little  cultivated. 
A  prejudice  exists  against  it,  as  it  is  imagined  to  injure 
horses  by  affecting  the  glands  of  the  mouth>  and  causing 


OF    ILLINOIS.  35 

them  to  slaver.  It  grows  luxuriantly,  and  may  be  cut  for 
hay  early  in  June.  The  white  clover  comes  in  naturally, 
where  the  ground  has  been  cultivated,  and  thrown  by, 
or  along  the  sides  of  old  roads  and  paths.  Clover  pas- 
tures would  be  excellent  for  swine. 

Animals.  Of  wild  animals  there  are  several  species. 
The  buffalo  is  not  found  on  this  side  the  Mississippi,  nor 
within  several  hundred  miles  of  St.  Louis.  This  animal 
once  roamed  at  large  over  the  prairies  of  Illinois,  and 
was  found  in  plenty  thirty  years  since.  Wolves, panthers, 
and  wild  cats  are  still  numerous  on  the  frontiers,  and 
through  the  unsettled  portions  of  the  country.  Wolves 
harbor  in  almost  every  county,  and  annoy  the  farmer  by 
destroying  his  sheep  and  pigs.  There  are  three  species 
found  in  Illinois: 

1.  The  large  grey  wolf,  or  cam's  lupus  of  Linneus,  is 
not  very  plenty,  and  not  commonly  found   in   the  older 
settlements. 

2.  The  black    wolf,  or    cards    lycaon    of  Linneus,  is 
scarce.     Occasionally  they  are  killed  by  our  hunters. 

3.  The  cam's  latrans  of  Say,  or  common  prairie  wolf, 
is  the  most  common,  and  found  in  considerable  numbers. 
This  mischievous    animal  is  but  little  larger  than    the 
common  fox,  burrows  in  the  prairies,  and  comes  forth  in 
the  night  to  attack  sheep,  pigs,  poultry,  &c.     Many  of 
the  settlers  keep  hounds  to  guard  against  the  depreda- 
tions of  this  animal. 

Panthers  and  wild  cats  are  less  common,  but  occa- 
sionally do  mischief. 

Deer  are  also  very  numerous,  and  are  valuable,  par- 
ticularly to  that  class  of  our  population  which  has  been 


36  A    GAZETTEER 

raised  to  frontier  habits;  the  flesh  affording  them  food, 
and  the  skins,  clothing.  Fresh  venison  hams  usuall} 
sell  for  twenty-five  cents  each,  and  when  properly  cured, 
are  a  delicious  article.  Many  of  the  frontier  people  dress 
their  skins,  and  make  them  into  pantaloons  and  hunting 
shirts.  These  articles  are  indispensable  to  all  who  have 
occasion  to  travel  in  viewing  land,  or  for  any  other 
purpose  beyond  the  settlements,  as  cloth  garments,  in 
the  shrubs  and  vines,  would  soon  be  in  strings. 

It  is  a  novel  and  pleasant  sight  to  a  stranger,  to  see 
the  deer  in  flocks  of  eight,  ten,  or  fifteen  in  number, 
feeding  on  the  grass  of  the  prairies,  or  bounding  away  at 
the  sight  of  a  traveler. 

The  brown  bear  is  also  an  inhabitant  of  this  state, 
although  he  is  continually  retreating  before  the  advance 
of  civilization. 

Foxes,  racoons,  opossums,  gophars,  and  squirrels, 
are  also  numerous,  as  are  muskrats,  otters,  and  occa- 
sionally beaver,  about  our  rivers  and  lakes.  Racoons 
are  very  common,  and  frequently  do  mischief  in  the  fall 
to  our  corn.  Opossums  sometimes  trouble  the  poultry. 
I  have  a  few  facts  reported  to  me  from  sources  entitled 
to  great  credit,  that  the  production  of  the  young  of  this 
singular  and  extraordinary  animal,  is  different  from  the 
ordinary  process  of  generation  in  viviparous  animals. 
The  foetus  is  found  adhering  to  the  teat,  within  the  false 
belly,  at  the  very  first  stage  of  existence. 

The  gophar  is  a  singular  little  animal,  about  the  size 
<*f  a  squirrel.  It  burrows  in  the  ground,  is  seldom  seen, 
but  its  works  make  it  known.  It  labors  during  the 
night,  in  digging  subterranean  passages  in  the  rich  soil 


OF    ILLINOIS.  -37 

of  the  prairies,  and  throws  up  hillocks  of  fresh  earth, 
within  a  few  feet  distance  from  each  other,  and  from 
twelve  to  eighteen  inches  in  height.  I  have  seen  a 
dozen  of  these  hillocks,  the  production  of  one  night's 
labor,  and  apparently  from  a  single  gophar.  The  pas- 
sages are  formed  in  such  a  labyrinth,  that  it  is  a  difficult 
matter  to  find  the  animal  by  digging. 

The  grey  and  fox  squirrels  often  do  mischief  in  the 
corn  fields,  and  the  hunting  of  them  makes  fine  sport  for 
the  boys.  It  is  a  rule  amongst  the  Kentucky  riflemen 
to  shoot  a  squirrel  only  through  his  eyes,  and  that  from 
the  tops  of  the  highest  trees  of  the  forest.  It  is  evi- 
dence of  a  bad  marksman,  for  a  hunter  to  hit  one  in  any 
other  part. 

Common  rabbits  exist  in  every  thicket.  These  ani- 
mals annoy  nurseries  and  young  orchards  exceedingly. 
The  fence  around  a  nursery  must  always  be  so  close  as 
to  shut  out  rabbits;  and  young  apple  trees  must  be 
secured  at  the  approach  of  winter,  by  tying  straw  or 
corn  stalks  around  their  bodies,  for  two  or  three  feet 
in  height,  or  the  bark  will  be  stripped  off  by  these  mis- 
chievous animals. 

Wild  horses  are  found  ranging  the  prairies  and  forests 
in  some  parts  of  the  state.  They  are  small  in  size,  of 
the  Indian  or  Canadian  breed,  and  very  hardy.  They 
are  caught  in  .pens,  or  with  ropes  having  nooses  at- 
tached to  them,  and  broken  to  the  saddle  and  harness. 
The  French,  who  monopolize  the  business  of  catching, 
and  breaking  these  horses,  make  them  an  article  of 
traffic;  their  common  price  is  from  fifteen  to  thirty 
dollars.  They  are  found  chiefly  in  the'  lower  end  of 


38  A    GAZETTEER 

the  American  Bottom,  near  the  junction  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia  and  Mississiopi  rivers,  called  the  Point.  They 
are  the  offspring  of  the  horses  brought  there  by  the  first 
settlers,  and  which  were  suffered  to  run  at  large.  The 
Indians  of  the  West  have  many  such  horses,  which  are 
commonly  called  Indian  ponies. 

Domestic  Animals.  These  are  the  same  as  are  found 
in  other  portions  of  the  United  States.  But  little  has 
been  done  to  improve  the  breed  of  horses  amongst  us. 
Our  common  riding  or  working  horses  average  about 
fifteen  hands  in  height.  Horses  are  much  more  used 
here  than  in  the  eastern  states,  and  many  a  farmer  keeps 
half  a  dozen  or  more.  Much  of  the  traveling  through- 
out the  western  country,  both  by  men  and  women,  is 
performed  on  horseback;  and  a  large  proportion  of  the 
land  carriage  is  by  means  of  large  wagons,  with  from 
four  to  six  stout  horses  for  a  team.  A  great  proportion 
of  the  ploughing  is  performed  by  horse  labor.  Horses 
are  more  subject  to  diseases  in  this  country  than  in  the 
old  states,  which  is  thought  to  be  occasioned  by  bad 
management,  rather  than  by  the  climate.  A  good  farm 
horse  can  be  purchased  for  fifty  dollars.  Riding,  or 
carriage  horses,  of  a  superior  quality,  cost  about  seven- 
ty-five or  eighty  dollars.  Breeding  mares  are  profitable 
stock  for  every  farmer  to  keep,  as  their  annual  ex- 
pense in  keeping  is  but  trifling,  their  labor  is  always 
needed,  and  their  colts,  when  grown,  find  a  ready  mar- 
ket. Some  farmers  keep  a  stallion,  and  eight  or  ten 
brood  mares. 

Mules  are  brought  into  Missouri,  and  find  their  way  to 
Illinois,  from  the  Mexican  dominions.  They  are  a 


OF    ILLINOIS.  39 

hardy  animal,  grow  to  a  good  size,  and  are  used  by  some 
both  for  labor  and  riding. 

Our  neat  cattle  are  usually  inferior  in  size  to  those  of  the 
old  states.  This  is  owing  entirely  to  bad  management. 
Our  cows  are  not  penned  up  in  pasture  fields,  but  suf- 
fered to  run  at  large  over  the  commons.  Hence  all  the 
calves  are  preserved,  without  respect  to  quality,  to 
entice  the  cows  homeward  at  evening.  They  are  kept 
up  through  the  day,  and  oftentimes  without  much  pasture, 
and  turned  to  the  cows  for  a  few  minutes  at  night,  and 
then  permitted  to  graze  through  the  night  over  the  short 
and  withered  grass  around  the  plantation. 

In  autumn  their  food  is  very  scanty,  and  during  the 
winter  they  are  permitted  to  pick  up  a  precarious  sub- 
sistence amongst  fifty  or  a  hundred  head  of  cattle. 
With  such  management,  is  it  surprising  that  our  cows 
and  steers  are  much  inferior  to  those  of  the  old  states? 

And  yet,  with  due  deference  to  the  opinions  of  Mr. 
Flint,  whom  I  have  once  before  controverted,  our  beef 
is  the  finest  in^the  world.  It  bears  the  best  inspection 
of  any  in  the  New  Orleans  market.  By  the  first  of 
June,  and  often  by  the  middle  of  May,  our  young  cattle 
on  the  prairies  are  fit  for  market.  They  do  not  yield 
large  quantities  of  tallow,  but  the  fat  is  well  propor- 
tioned throughout  the  carcase,  and  the  meat  tender  and 
delicious.  By  inferiority,  then,  I  mean  the  size  of  our 
cattle  in  general,  and  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the 
milk  of  cows. 

Common  cows,  if  suffered  to  lose  their  milk  in  August, 
become  sufficiently  fat  for  table  use  by  October.  Far- 
row heifers  and  steers,  are  good  beef,  and  fit  for  the 


40  A    GAZETTEER 

knife  at  any  period  after  the  middle  of  May.  Nothing 
is  more  common  than  for  an  Illinois  farmer  to  go  among 
his  stock,  select,  shoot  down,  and  dress  a  fine  beef, 
whenever  fresh  meat  is  needed.  This  is  often  divided 
out  amongst  the  neighbors,  who  in  turn,  kill  and  share 
likewise.  It  is  common  at  camp  and  other  large  meet- 
ings, to  kill  a  beef  and  three  or  four  hogs  for  the  sub- 
sistence of  friends  from  a  distance. 

Steers  from  three  years  old  or  more,  have  been  pur- 
chased in  great  numbers  in  Illinois,  by  drovers  from 
Ohio.  They  usually  have  sold  from  nine  to  twelve  dol- 
lars per  head.  They  are  driven  early  in  the  spring  to 
the  Miami  and  Scioto  country,  in  Ohio,  fed  in  pastures 
through  the  summer,  and  in  autumn  drove  to  Pensyl- 
vania,  and  turned  over  to  the  graziers  there,  to  stall- 
feed  for  the  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  markets.  Cat- 
tle are  sometimes  sent  in  flat  boats  down  the  Mississippi 
and  Ohio,  for  the  New  Orleans  market. 

We  can  hardly  place  limits  upon  the  amount  of  beef 
cattle  that  Illinois  is  capable  of  producing.  A  farmer 
calls  himself  poor,  with  a  hundred  head  of  horned  cattle 
around  him.  A  cow  in  the  spring  is  worth  from  seven 
to  ten  dollars.  Some  of  the  best  quality  will  sell  higher. 
And  let  it  be  distinctly  understood,  once  for  all,  that  a 
poor  man  can  always  purchase  horses,  cattle,  hogs,  and 
provisions,  for  labor,  either  by  the  day,  month,  or  job. 

Cows,  in  general,  do  not  produce  the  same  amount  of 
milk,  nor  of  as  rich  a  quality  as  in  older  states.  Some- 
thing is  to  be  attributed  to  the  nature  of  our  pastures, 
and  the  warmth  of  our  climate,  but  more  to  causes  al- 
ready assigned.  If  ever  a  land  was  characterized 


OF    ILLINOIS.  41 

justly,  as  "flowing  with  milk  and  honey,"  it  is  Illinois 
and  the  adjacent  states.  From  the  springing  of  the 
grass  till  September,  butter  is  made  in  great  profusion. 
It  sells  at  that  season  in  market  for  about  ten  cents, 
and  in  the  interior  of  the  state  for  six  and  a  quarter 
cents  per  pound.  With  proper  care  it  can  be  preserved 
in  tolerable  sweetness  for  winter's  use.  Late  in  autumn 
and  early  in  the  winter,  sometimes  butter  is  not  plenty. 
The  feed  becomes  dry,  the  cows  range  further  off,  and 
do  not  come  up  readily  for  milking,  and  dry  up.  A 
very  little  trouble  would  enable  a  farmer  to  keep  three 
or  four  good  cows  in  fresh  milk  at  the  season  most 
needed. 

Cheese  is  made  by  many  families,  especially  in  the 
counties  bordering  on  the  Illinois  river.  Good  cheese 
sells  for  eight  and  sometimes  ten  cents,  and  finds  a 
ready  market.  The  most  important  arrangement  for 
the  dairy  business  in  Illinois,  and  especially  for  cheese 
making,  is  to  persuade  a  few  thousand  families,  from  the 
dairy  regions  of  New  England,  to  emigrate,  and  con- 
tinue their  industrious  habits  after  settling  here. 

Swine.  This  species  of  stock  may  be  called  a  staple 
in  the  provision  of  Illinois.  Thousands  of  hogs  are 
raised  without  any  expense,  except  a  few  breeders  to 
start  with,  and  a  little  attention  in  hunting  them  on  the 
range,  and  keeping  them  tame. 

In  Macoupin  county,  and  about  twenty-five  miles 
from  Edwardsville,  one  of  our  Illinois  frontier  men, 
Mr.  F.  settled  himself  on  congress  land  seven  years 
since,  with  four  or  five  sows  for  breeders,  worth  as  many 
dollars.  In  1829,  he  drove  forty-two  fat  hogs  to  mar- 


42  A    GAZETTEER 

ket,  which  he  sold  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  dol- 
lars. The  amount  of  corn  given  to  the  whole,  before  he 
drove  them, did  not  exceed  one  bushel.  They  lived  on 
the  range,  and  grew  fat  on  mast;  the  fruit  of  oak,  hick- 
ory, &c.  Of  the  proceeds,  one  hundred  dollars  was  ap- 
plied to  pay  for  eighty  acres  of  land  on  which  he  had 
settled.  The  remainder  served  to  pay  some  small  debts , 
and  purchase  his  salt,  iron,  and  groceries,  for  the  ensu- 
ing year.  This  is  not  mentioned  as  an  extraordinary 
occurrence,  but  as  a  circumstance  that  excited  no 
special  notice  in  Illinois.  This  kind  of  pork  is  by  no 
means  equal  to  that  raised  and  fatted  on  corn,  and  in 
a  domestic  way.  It  is  soft,  oily,  and  will  not  bear  in- 
spection,at  New  Orleans.  It  usually  sells  for  two  dol- 
lars per  hundred. 

Pork  that  is  made  in  a  domestic  way  and  fatted  on 
corn,  will  sell  from  three  to  four  dollars,  according  to 
size,  quality,  and  the  time  when  it  is  delivered.  With 
a  pasture  of  clover  or  blue  grass,  a  well-filled  corn  crib, 
a  dairy,  and  slop  barrel,  and  the  usual  care  that  a  New 
Englander  bestows  on  his  pigs,  pork  may  be  raised  from 
the  sow,  fatted,  and  killed,  and  weigh  from  two  hundred 
to  two  hundred  and  fifty,  within  twelve  months,  and 
this  method  of  raising  pork  would  be  profitable. 

Few  families  in  the  west  and  south  put  up  their  pork 
in  salt  pickle.  Their  method  is  to  salt  it  sufiicienly  to 
prepare  it  for  smoking,  and  then  make  bacon  of  hams, 
shoulders,  and  middlings  or  broadsides.  The  price  of 
bacon,  taking  the  hog  round,  is  about  six  and  seven 
cents.  Good  hams  command  eight  and  ten  cents  in  th,e 
St.  Louis  market.  Stock  hogs,  weighing  from  sixty  to 


OF    ILLINOIS.  43 

one  hundred  pounds,  alive,  usually  sell  from  one  dollar 
to  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  head.  Families  con- 
sume much  more  meat  in  Illinois,  in  proportion  to  num- 
bers, than  in  the  old  states. 

Sheep  do  very  well  in  this  country,  especially  in  the 
older  settlements,  where  the  grass  has  becomeshort,and 
they  are  less  molested  by  wolves.  But  few  are  kept. 
The  people  from  the  south  are  more  accustomed  to  cot- 
ton for  clothing  than  wool.  This  article,  when  manu- 
factured into  rolls,  sells  for  fifty  cents  per  pound. 
Common  wool  is  worth  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents  in 
the  fleece,  Little  is  said  or  done  to  improve  the  breed 
of  sheep,  or  introduce  the  Merino,  or  Saxony  breed. 

Poultry  are  raised  in  great  profusion — and  large  num- 
bers of  fowls  taken  to  market.  It  is  no  uncommon 
thing  for  some  farmer's  wives  to  raise  three  or  four  hun- 
dred fowls,  besides  geese,  ducks,  and  turkies,  in  a 
a  season.  Young  fowls,  butter,  and  eggs,  are  the  three- 
articles  usually  mustered  from  every  farm  in  the  coun-' 
ties  adjacent  to  St.  Louis,  for  that  marlfet.  By  these 
means,  many  families  provide  their  coffee,  sugar,  tea', 
and  various  articles  of  apparel. 

Eggs ,  when  plenty,  as  at  the  close  of  winter  and  spring , 
sell  for  six  and  eight  cents  per  dozen. 

In  noticing  poultry,  I  ought  not  to  pass  over  some  of 
our  wild  fowl. 

Ducks,  geese,  swans,  and  many  other  aquatic  birds, 
visit  our  waters  in  the  spring.  The  small  lakes  and 
sloughs  are  often  literally  covered  with  them.  Ducks, 
and  some  of  the  rest,  frequently  stay  through  the  sum- 
mer and  breed. 


44  A    GAZETTEER 

The  prairie  fowl  is  seen  in  great  numbers  on  the  prai- 
ries in  the  summer,  and  about  the  cornfields  in  the  win- 
ter. This  is  the  grouse  of  the  New  York  market.  They 
are  easily  taken  in  the  winter. 

Partridges,  (the  quail  of  New  England)  are  taken  with 
nets,  in  the  winter,  by  hundreds  in  a  day,  and  furnish 
no  trifling  item  in  the  luxuries  of  the  city  market. 

Bees.  This  laborious  and  useful  insect  is  to  be  found 
in  the  trees  of  every  forest.  Many  of  the  frontier 
people  make  it  a  prominent  business  after  the  frost  has 
killed  the  vegetation,  to  hunt  them  for  the  honey  and 
wax,  both  of  which  find  a  ready  market.  Bees  are  pro- 
fitable  stock  for  the  farmer,  and  are  kept  to  a  consider- 
able extent. 

Silkworms  are  raised  by  a  few  persons.  They  are 
capable  of  being  produced  to  any  extent,  and  fed  on  the 
common  black  mulberry  of  the  country. 

MANUFACTURES. 

In  the  infancy  of  a  state,  little  can  be  expected  in 
machinery  and  manufactures.  And  in  a  region  so  much 
deficient  in  water  power  as  some  parts  of  Illinois  is,  still 
less  may  be  looked  for.  Yet  Illinois  is  not  entirely 
deficient  in  manufacturing  enterprise. 

Salt.  The  principal  salines  of  this  state  have  been 
mentioned  under  the  head  of  minerals. 

The  principal  works  are  at  the  Gallatin,  Big  Muddy, 
and  Vermilion  salines. 

At  the  Gallatin  salines  there  are  nine  furnaces,  of 
sixty  kettles  each,  usually  in  operation,  which  make  up- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  45 

• 

wards  of  3000  bushels  per  week,  averaging  about  130,000 
bushels  annually,  after  deducting  for  lost  time.  The 
works  are  carried  on  by  Messrs.  White,  Davis,  Cren- 
shaw,  Weed,  and  Guard.  Salt  sells  at  the  works  from 
thirty-seven  and  a  half  to  fifty  cents  per  bushel,  of  fifty 
pounds  weight.  About  one  half  of  the  salt  manufactured 
here  is  exchanged  for  corn,  meal,  flour,  beef,  pork,  po- 
tatoes, and  every  article  of  -produce  that  can  be  raised 
in  the  country.  Thus  the  farmers  are  supplied  with 
salt  at  a  cheap  rate,  and  find  a  market  for  their  produce 
at  home. 

The  Big  Muddy  salines  are  in  the  vicinity  of  Browns- 
ville, in  Jackson  county.  Two  manufactories  are  esta- 
blished, one  by  Conrad  Will,  Esq.,  who  has  followed  the 
business  for  many  years,  the  other  by  Messrs.  Neilsons. 
Mr.  Will's  works  produce  from  one  hundred  to  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  bushels  of  salt  per  week.  His  water  is 
strong  and  has  been  obtained  by  boring  203  fee't.  A 
copper  tube  has  been  placed  in  this  well. 

The  Neilsons  have  their  works  one  mile  below  Browns- 
ville, and  have  bored  upwards  of  400  feet.  Their  fur- 
nace is  calculated  to  manufacture  from  fifty  to  sixty 
bushels  in  twenty-four  hours. 

This  company  obtained  a  charter  of  incorporation  at 
the  last  legislature,  under  the  name  of  "The  Illinois 
Manufacturing,  Mining,  and  Exporting  Company ,"  with  a 
capital  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Their  inten- 
tion is  to  manufacture  cotton,  woollen  and  hempen  goods, 
and  to  dig  and  export  coal  from  their  mines.  These 
mines  are  four  miles  above  Brownsville,  and  are  inex- 


'10  A    GAZETTEER 

liaustible.  They  contemplate  sending  off  from  fifty  to 
one  hundred  flat  boats,  loaded  with  coal,  to  New  Or- 
leans annually,  averaging  one  thousand  bushels  to  each 
boat.  They  have  erected  a  large  steam  mill  for  sawing 
lumber  and  grinding  grain,  and  contemplate  erecting 
other  works  for  manufacturing  purposes,  at  Mount  Car- 
bon, on  the  Muddy  river,  four  miles  above  Brownsville. 
The  Vermilion  salines  have  been  worked  for  several 
« ears  with  considerable  success.  They  are  on  the  Salt 
fork  of  the  Vermilion  a  few  miles  west  of  Danville. 

About  three  thousand  bushels  of  salt  are  made  annu- 
ally. There  is  one  furnace  in  operation.  The  works 
are  valuable  to  the  surrounding  country. 

Steam  Mills  for  flouring  and  sawing  are  becoming  very 
common,  and  in  general  are  profitable.  Some  are  now 
in  operation  with  four  run  of  stones,  and  which  manu- 
facture one  hundred  barrels  of  flour  in  a  day.  Mills 
propelled  by  steam,  water,  and  animal  power,  are  con- 
stantly increasing.  Steam  mills  will  become  numerous, 
particulary  in  the  southern  and  middle  portions  of  the 
state,  and  it  is  deserving  remark  that  while  these  por- 
tions are  not  well  supplied  with  durable  water  power, 
they  contain,  in  the  timber  of  the  forest,  and  the  inex- 
haustible bodies  of  bituminous  coal,  abundant  supplies 
of  fuel,  while  the  northern  portion,  though  deficient  in 
fuel,  has  abundant  water  power. 

A  good  steam  saw-mill  with  two  saws  can  be  built  for 
1,500  dollars;  and  a  steam  flouring  mill  with  two  run  of 
stones,  elevators  and  other  apparatus  complete,  and  of 
sufficient  force  to  turn  out  forty  or  fifty  barrels  of  flour 
per  day,  may  be  built  for  from  3,500  to  5000  dollars. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  47 

Ox  mills  on  an  inclined  plane,  and  horse  mills  by 
draught,  are  common  through  the  county. 

Castor  Oil.  Considerable  quantities  of  this  article 
have  been  manufactured  in  Illinois  from  the  palma 
christi,  or  castor  bean.  One'bushel  of  the  beans  will 
make  nearly  two  gallons  of  the  oil.  There  are  five  or 
six  castor  oil  presses  in  the  state,  in  Madison,  Randolph, 
Edwards,  and  perhaps  in  other  counties.  Mr.  Adams  ot 
Edwardsville,  in  1825,  made  500  gallons,  which  then  sold 
at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  fifty  cents  per  gallon.  In  1S26 
he  made  800  gallons:  in  1827, 1 000  gallons:  the  price  then 
one  dollar  seventy-five  cents:  in  1828, 1800  gallons;  price 
one  dollar  in  1830  he  started  two  presses  and  made  up- 
wards of  10,000  gallons,  which  sold  for  from  seventy- 
five  to  eighty-seven  cents  per  gallon:  in  1831  about  the 
same  quantity.  That  and  the  following  season  being 
unfavourable  for  the  production  of  the  bean  there  has 
been  a  falling  off  in  the  quantity.  The  amount  manu- 
factured in  other  parts  of  the  state  has  probably  ex- 
ceeded that  made  by  Mr.  Adams. 

Cotton  Goods.  A  few  factories  for  spinning  cotton 
yarn  have  been  put  into  operation  in  several  counties  on 
a  small  scale  of  from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred  spiu- 
dles  each.  They  are  carried  by  animal  power  on  the 
inclined  plane. 

Coarse  clothing  from  cotton  is  manufactured  in  the 
southern  portion  of  the  state,  where  the  article  is 
raised  in  small  quantities.  Woollen  cloth,  and  jeans, 
a  mixture  of  wool  and  cotton,  is  made  for  ordinary  wear, 
as  is  cloth  from  flax. 

Lead.     In  Jo   Daviess  county  are  eight  or  ten  fur- 


48  A    GAZETTEER 

naces  for  smelting  lead.  The  amount  of  this  article 
made  annually  at  the  mines  of  the  Upper  Mississippi, 
has  been  given  under  the  head  of  minerals. 

Boat  Building  will  soon  become  a  branch  of  business, 
in  this  state.  Some  steam  boats,  have  been  constructed 
already  within  this  state,  along  the  Mississippi.  It  is 
thought  that  Alton  and  Chicago  are  convenient  sites 
for  this  business. 

There  is  in  this  state,  as  in  all  the  western  states,  a 
large  amount  of  domestic  manufactures  made  by  families. 
All  the  trades,  needful  to  a  new  country,  are  in  exist- 
ence. Carpenters,  wagon  makers,  cabinet  makers, 
blacksmiths,  tanneries,  etc.  may  be  found  in  every 
county  and  town.  At  Mount  Carmel  there  is  an  iron 
foundry  for  castings. 

There  has  been  a  considerable  falling  off  in  the  manu- 
facture of  whiskey  within  a  few  years,  and  it  is  sin- 
cerely hoped  by  thousands  of  citizens  that  this  branch 
of  business,  so  decidedly  injurious  to  the  morals  and 
happiness  of  community  and  individuals,  will  entirely 
decline. 

Manufacturing  Incorporations.  At  the  last  session  of 
the  legislature,  in  1832, — 33,  several  charters  were 
granted  to  companies,  as  an  encouragement  to  the  va- 
rious branches  of  manufacturing  industry.  I  have 
noticed  already  the  "Illinois  •Manufacturing,  Mining,  and 
Exporting  .Company." 

The  "Alton  Manufacturing  Company  "  with  a  capital 
stock  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  in  shares  of  one  hundred 
dollars  each,  and  power  to  increase  the  stock  to  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  has  gone  into  operation.  The 


OF    ILLINOIS.  '        49 

purposes  specified  are  the  manufacture  of  cotton  and 
woollen  goods,  hemp,  flax,  grain,  lumber,  and  machinery. 
A  large  steam  mill  for  manufacturing  flour  and  meal, 
with  four  run  of  French  buhr  stones,  has  been  put  into 
operation,  and  that  will  turn  out  one  hundred  barrels  of 
flour  daily. 

The  t(Quincy  Manufacturing  Company ,'J  for  similar 
purposes,  with  a  capital  of  20,000  dollars,  which  may  be 
increased  to  50,000,  has  a  large  steam  mill  at  Quincy, 
and  bids  fair  to  be  a  useful  establishment  to  the  commu- 
nity in  that  quarter. 

The  "North  Western  Company  for  Manufacturing  pur- 
poses," for  "manufacturing  cotton  and  woollen  goods, 
hemp,  flax,  grain,  lumber,  and  machinery,"  was  incorpo- 
rated the  same  session.  I  have  no  knowledge  that  it 
has  commenced  business.  The  conditions  were  that  the 
company  should  commence  the  manufacture  of  woollen 
goods,  at  some  point  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois 
river,  within  two  years  from  the  first  day  of  May,  1833. 

Another  incorporation  granted  "for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  cotton  and  woollen  goods,  hemp,  flax,  and 
for  converting  into  manufactured  products,  any  articles 
of  the  growth  and  production  of  this  state,  whether  ani- 
mal, vegetable,  or  fossil,  and  for  the  digging  and  ex- 
porting of  stone,"  is  under  the  name  of  "The  Graflon 
Manufacturing  Company."  Mr.  James  Mason  is  the 
proprietor  of  Grafton,  a  £own  site  on  the  Mississippi,  a 
short  distance  below  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river,  and 
from  the  wealth  and  enterprise  o£  this  gentlemen,  it  is 
expected  some  of  these  branches  of  business  will  go  for- 


50  A    GAZETTEER 

ward.  The  capital  stock  is  not  to  exceed  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

E.  Bayles  and  J.  M.  Strode  of  Galena  were  also  con- 
stituted a  body  corporate  by  the  name  of  the  "Illinois 
Paper  Manufacturing-  Company."  Paper,  cotton,  wool, 
corn,  wheat,  and  timber,  or  either  of  them  separately, 
the  articles  proposed  to  be  manufactured  by  this  com- 
pany. Capital  stock  proposed  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  with  the  privilege  of  increasing  it  to  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  The  company  also  may  deal  in  mer- 
chandize, and  loan  money,  but  not  emit  bills  of  credit 
nor  have  banking  powers.  I  have  no  knowledge  of  its 
going  into  operation. 

The  " Coles  Manufacturing  Company"  is  another  cor- 
porate body,  for  the  manufacture  of  various  products  of 
the  soil,  granted  to  Joseph  Barbour  and  William  C, 
Greenup,  to  be  located  in  Coles  county.  This  corpora- 
tion, it  is  believed,  has  not  gone  into  operation. 

NATURAL   CURIOSITIES    AND    ANTIQUITIES. 

On  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  and 
the  bluffs  that  overhang  the  alluvions,  are  many  singular 
appearances.  These  consist  of  ledges  of  rock,  which 
exhibit  the  most  fanciful  forms,  and  in  many  places  are 
penetrated  by  caverns  of  various  dimensions.  Of  these 
the  "Cave  in  Rock"  on  the  Ohio  will  be  described  under 
its  own  name.  The  "Devil's  Anvil,"  "Grand  Tower," 
"Starved  Rock,"  "Buffaloe  Rock,"  "Mount  Joliet,"  and 
many  other  singular  appearances  will  be  found  under 
their  respective  names,  in  the  third  part  of  this  work. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  51 

The  Fossil  Tree  of  the  Des  Plaines  and  to  which  allu- 
sion has  been  made  already,  is  fully  described  by  Mr. 
Schoolcraft,  in  a  memoir  read  before  the  American 
Geological  Society,  in  1821. 

It  lies  in  ahorizontal  position,  imbedded  in  a  stratum 
if  flcetz  sandstone,  of  a  grey  color  and  close  grain.  The 
middle  portion  of  the  trunk  is  fifty-one  feet  six  inches  in 
length,  and  is  eighteen  inches  in  diameter  at  the  small- 
est end.  It  is  a  species  of  the  juglans  nigra,  or  black 
walnut,  a  tree  common  to  the  Illinois,  and  completely 
petrified.  It  lies  in  the  bed  of  the  Des  Plaines  about 
forty  rods  above  its  junction  with  the  Kankakee. 

Petrifactions  are  very  common  in  Illinois.  The  "lost 
rocks, "or  boulders  scattered  over  a  surface,  of  an  evi- 
dent diluvial  deposit,  are  a  curiosity.  They  are  in 
great  numbers  towards  the  heads  of  the  Kaskas"kia  and 
Sangamon  rivers,  and  become  more  numerous  and  are  " 
found  at  various  depths  in  the  soil,  as  the  traveler  passes 
northward  along  the  great  prairies.  Indeed,  the  geo- 
logical formation  of  the  whole  state,  presents  a  rich 
field  for  investigation  in  that  science. 

The  antiquities  of  Illinois  are  similar  to  those  of  other 
western  states.  Indian  graves  are  common,  especially 
along  the  bluffs.  Fragments  of  bones,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  whole  skeletons,  in  a  tolerable  state  of  preser- 
vation, are  found  deposited  from  two  to  three  feet  be- 
low the  surface.  In  not  a  few  instances  they  are  found 
enclosed  with  stone  slabs,  undressed,  and  obtained 
from  the  neighboring  cliffs.  There  are  no  proofs  of  a 
pigmy  race  of  aborigines  in  the  western  states.  Graves 
are  not  unfrequent  where  the  length  from  the  hesyl  jH^/i 


52  A    GAZETTEER 

the  foot  stone,  does  not  exceed  four  feet,  and  yet  con- 
tain the  skeleton  of  an  adult  of  full  stature.  In  such 
instances  it  will  be  found  upon  careful  examination  of 
the  position  of  the  bones,  that  the  leg  and  thigh  bones 
lie  parallel,  and  that  the  corpse  was  inhumed  with  the 
knees  bent  into  that  position.  Some  bones  of  unusual 
size  have  been  discovered,  but  I  am  not  acquainted  with 
facts  to  justify  the  supposition  of  a  race  of  giants.  Bones 
of  a  huge  animal,  but  different  from  the  Mammoth,  have 
been  recently  found  in  St.  Clair  county. 

About  the  Gallatin  and  Big  Muddy  salines,  large 
fragments  of  earthenware,  are  very  frequently  found, 
under  the  surface  of  the  earth.  They  appear  to  have 
been  portions  of  large  kettles,  used,  probably,  by  the 
natives  for  obtaining  salt.  Small  fragments  of  earthen- 
ware, arrow  and  spear  heads,  stone  axes  and  mallets,  and 
other  antiquities,  are  found  in  various  parts  of  the  state.  . 
Silver  coins  of  ancient  origin  have  been  found  at  Kas- 
kaskia.  They  were  probably  brought  there  by  the 
Jesuits, or  the  early  French  emigrants. 

Of  one  thing  the  writer  is  satisfied,  that  very  imper- 
fect and  incorrect  data  have  been  relied  upon  and  very 
erroneous  conclusions  drawn,  upon  western  antiquities. 
Whoever  has  time  and  patience,  and  is  in  other  respects 
qualified  to  explore  this  field  of  science,  and  will  use  his 
spade  and  eyes  together,  and  restrain  his  imagination 
from  running  riot  amongst  mounds,  fortifications,  horse- 
shoes, medals,  and  whole  cabinets  of  relics  of  the  "olden 
time,"  will  find  very  little  more  than  the  indications  of 
rude  savages,  the  ancestors  of  the  present  race  of 
Indians. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  53 

Of  ancient  military  works,  I  have  long  been  convinced 
that  not  half  a  dozen  such  structures  ever  existed  in 
the  west  before  the  visits  of  Europeans.  Enclosures  of 
various  sizes,  and  perhaps  for  different  purposes,  with 
an  embankment  of  earth,  three  or  four  feet  high,  and 
a  trifling  ditch  out  of  which  the  earth  was  dug,  un- 
doubtedly were  formed.  In  all  probability  some  of 
these  embankments  enclosed  their  villages;  others  the 
residence  of  their  chiefs  or  head  men.  But  what  people, 
savage,  barbarous,  civilized,  or  enlightened,  ever  con- 
structed a  fortification  around  five  or  six  hundred  acres, 
with  a  ditch  in  the  inside!  Or  what  military  people  made 
twenty  or  thirty  such  forts,  within  two  or  three  miles! 
At  any  rate  I  am  confident  these  immense  armies  of 
military  heroes  never  visited  Illinois. 

The  remains  of  Fort  Chartres,  commenced  by  the 
French  in  1720,  to  defend  their  infant  settlements 
against  the  Spaniards  and  Indians,  is  probably  the  most 
ancient  military  work  within  this  state,  of  which  any 
portion  now  remains. 

Those  who  are  particularly  desirous  of  information 
concerning  the  millions  of  warriors,  and  the  bloody 
battles  in  which  more  were  slain  than  ever  fell  in  all  the 
wars  of  Alexander,  Cagsar,  or  Napoleon,  with  a  particu- 
lar description  of  their  military  works,  would  do  well  to 
read  the  "Book  of  Mormon,"  made  out  of  the  "golden 
plates"  of  that  distinguished  antiquarian  Joe  Smith! 

It  is  far  superior  to  some  modern  productions  on 
western  antiquities,  because  it  furnishes  us  with  the 
names  and  biography  of  the  principal  men  who  were 
concerned  in  these  enterprises,  with  many  of  the  par- 


54  A  GAZETTEER 

ticulars  of  their  wars  for  several  centuries.  But,  seri- 
ously, the  attention  of  scientific  men  is  invited  to  this 
subject. 

And  as  a  starting  question  to  such  an  investigation,  it 
ought  to  be  first  settled  how  long  human  bones  will  re- 
tain their  form  and  solidity  without  decomposition,  when 
exposed  to  the  air,  earth,  water,  and  other  causes  of  de- 
cay, interred  two  or  three  feet  deep  in  the  earth.  Will 
they  preserve  their  form  and  soundness  over  two,  or  at 
the  most,  three  hundred  years.  Are  not  the  relics  of 
the  early  pilgrims -of  New  England,  and  the  first  settlers 
of  Jamestown,  mouldered  entirely  to  dust  ]  Will 
any  one  say  that  human  skeletons,  entombed  as  those 
are  in  the  mounds  of  Illinois,  but  two  or  three  feet 
below  the  surface,  remain  in  a  state  of  preservation  five 
or  six  hundred  years?  A  sober  investigation  of  these 
questions  would  result  in  an  entire  overthrow  of  the 
hypothesis  of  existing  races  of  men  prior  to  the  Indians, 
founded  upon  such  remains. 

The  existence  of  tf  Mounds"  in  this,  and  other  western 
states,  has  been  assumed  as  substantial  proof,  amounting 
to  demonstration,  of  a  race  of  men  of  enterprising  habits, 
and  far  more  civilized  than  the  present  race  of  ab- 
origines. But  it  is  now  seriously  questioned  whether 
these  mounds  are  the  work  of  art.  I  know  not  that  any 
writer  ever  ventured  to  attack  this  supposition  till  John 
Russell,  esq.  sent  forth  his  essay  in  the  Illinois  Maga- 
zine, of  March,  1831.  Mr.  Russell  is  a  citizen  of  this 
state,  and  well  known  as  a  writer  of  considerable  ta- 
lents and  literary  acquirements.  He  has  had  opportu- 
nity of  examining  for  himself,  many  of  those  mounds,  of 


OF    ILLINOIS,  55 

various  dimensions.  He  maintains  they  are  not  artifi- 
cial, and  offers  objections  to  their  being  productions  of 
human  art,  not  easily  obviated. 

But  there  are  many  mounds  in  the  west,  that  exactly 
correspond  in  shape  with  these  supposed  antiquities,  and 
yet  from  their  size  most  evidently  were  not  made  by 
man. 

Monk  hill,  in  the  American  bottom,  near  the  road  from 
St.  Louis  to  Edwardsville,  is  of  the  following  dimen- 
sions. The  circumference  of  its  base  is  about  eight 
hundred  yards, — its  height  90  feet, — its  shape  that  of  a 
parallelogram. 

Mr.  Flint,  who  has  written  some  fine  romances  and 
considerable  "History  and  Geography  of  the  Western 
States,"  describes  one  in  Ohio,  between  thirty  and 
forty  reds  in  circumference,  and  seventy  feet  high.  It 
would  be  well  to  calculate,  upon  the  ordinary  labor  of  ex- 
cavating canals,  how  many  hands,  with  spades,  wheel- 
barrows,  and  other  necessary  implements,  it  would  take 
to  throw  up  suclfc  a  mound  within  any  given  time. 

Mount  Joliet  on  the  Des  Plaines,  is  about  one  mile  in 
circumference,  and  150  feet  high,  rising  like  a  pyramid 
of  sand.  In  the  north  western  part  of  Illinois,  and  in 
the  Wisconsin  territory,  are  mounds  of  much  larger  di- 
mensions, and  compared  to  which  Monk-hill  is  but  a 
mole  hill.  Mount  Charles,  Sinsinewa,  and  the  Blue 
Mounds  are  on  a  grand  scale.  The  latter  range  is  three 
or  four  hundred  feet  high,  and  has  an  area  of  several 
hundred  acres  of  table  land  on  its  summit.  Springs  of 
water  gush  from  its  sides.  Mr.  Brigham  has  an  elegant 
farm  on  one  of  these  mounds.  West  of  the  Arkansas 


56  A    GAZETTEER 

territory,  in  the  Osage  country,  and  near  Clermont's 
village,  are  a  number  of  large,  regularly  formed  mounds, 
two  hundred  feet  high,  ranging  with  each  other,  and 
extending  in  a  line  for  ten  or  twelve  miles.  They  are 
level  on  the  top,  and  contain  from  two  to  five  acres  of 
table  land,  and  the  sides  are  so  steep  as  to  be  inacces- 
sable  excepting  in  one  or  two  places.  The  country 
around  is  an  immense  prairie,  nearly  level. 

These  large  mounds  are  of  the  same  shape  and  propor- 
tions as  the  smaller  ones.  Who  supposes  these  to  be 
works  of  human  art?  Who  will  place  these  among  the 
antiquities  of  a  country? 

If  any  one  will  account  for  the  formation  of  these  stu- 
pendous works  of  nature,  in  a  country  of  unquestionably 
diluvial  formation,  there  are  men  who  make  no  preten- 
sions to  the  rank  of  western  antiquarians,  who  will  ac- 
count for  the  formation  of  the  smaller  ones,  of  a  few 
feet  elevation,  without  the  aid  of  an  extinguished  race 
of  men.  Until  further  evidence  of  their  being  the  work 
of  men's  hands,  I  shall  class  them  amon^jthe  natural  cu- 
riosities of  the  country. 

CLIMATE    AND    HEALTH. 

The  state  of  Illinois,  extending  as  it  does,  through 
five  and  half  degrees  of  latitude,  must  possess  some  va- 
riety in  its  climate.  Its  extensive  prairies,  and  its 
level  surface,  give  greater  scope  to  the  winds,  especially 
in  winter.  Snow  frequently  falls, ^but  seldom  lies  long, 
during  the  three  winter  months,  in  the  southern  portion 
of  the  state.  In  the  northern  portion,  the  winters  are 


OF    ILLINOIS.  57 

nearly  as  severe  as  in  the  same  parallel  of  latitude  in  the 
Atlantic  states.  The  Mississippi  at  St.  Louis  is  fre- 
quently frozen  over  and  is  passed  on  the  ice,  and  occa- 
sionally for  several  weeks.  The  hot  season  is  longer, 
though  not  more  intense,  than  occasionally  for  a  day  or 
two  in  New  England. 

During  the  years  1817-18-19,  the  rev.  Mr.  Giddings, 
at  St.  Louis,  made  a  series  of  observations  upon  Faren- 
heit's  thermometer. 

Deg.  Hund. 

Mean  temperature  for  1817, 55      52 

Do.  do.  from  the  beginning 

of  May,  1818,  to  the  end  of  April, 

1819 56      98 

Mean  temperature  for  1820 56       18 

The  mean  of  these  results  is  about  fifty-six  degrees 
and  a  quarter. 

The  mean  temperature  of  each  month  during  the 
above  years,  is  as  follows: 

Deg.  Hund. 

January 30      62 

February 38       65 

March 43       13 

April 58      47 

May 62      66 

June 74      47 

July 78      66 

August     .  .  .  .  : 72      88 

September     „  .  .      70       10 

October 59      00 

November 53       13 

December  .  34      33 


58  A    GAZETTEER 

The  mean  temperature  of  the  different  seasons  is  as 
follows. 

Winter,  34.  53— Spring,  54.74— Summer,  74.34— Au- 
tumn, 60.77. 

The  greatest  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  during  my 
residence  in  the  county  of  seventeen  years,  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Louis,  is  as  follows; 

Greatest  heat  in  July  1820,  and  July  1833, 100  degrees. 
Greatest  cold  January  3rd,  1834,  18  degrees  below 
zero. 

The  foregoing  facts  will  doubtless  apply  to  about  one 
half  of  Illinois.  This  climate  also  is  subject  to  sudden 
changes  from  heat  to  cold;  from  wet  to  dry,  especially 
from  November  to  May.  The  heat  of  the  summer  below 
the  40th  degree  of  latitude  is  more  enervating,  and  the 
system  becomes  more  easily  debilitated  than  in  the 
bracing  atmosphere  of  a  more  northerly  region. 

The  putting  forth  of  vegetation  in  the  spring,  furnishes 
data  for  the  most  correct  conclusions  concerning  the 
climate  of  a  country.  Some  facts,  gathered  from  the 
observations  of  a  series  of  seasons,  will  be  presented  in 
the  appendix. 

Winds.  South  westerly  winds  prevail  during  the 
spring,  summer  and  autumn,  at  least  south  of  the  forty- 
first  'degree  of  latitude.  In  the  spring,  and  during  the 
rise  of  the  Missouri,  they  are  from  a  more  westerly 
direction,  and  rains  are  usually  more  frequent.  During 
the  latter  part  of  summer  and  autumn  the  air  is  dry  and 
elastic.  In  the  months  of  December  and  January  north 
west  and  northerly  winds  often  prevail.  North  east  M 
storms,  are  extremely  rare,  unless  towards  lake  Michi- 
gan. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  59, 

• 

Weather.  There  are  a  great  proportion  of  clear, 
pleasant  days  throughout  the  year.  Dr.  Beck,  who  re- 
sided at  St.  Louis  during  the  year  1820,  made  observa- 
tions upon  the.  changes  of  the  weather,  and  produced 
the  following  results. 

Clear  days,  245. — Cloudy,  including  all  the  variable 
days,  110. 

The  results  of  my  own  observations,  kept  for  twelve 
years,  with  the  exception  of  1826,  and  with  some  irregu- 
larity, from  travelling  into  different  parts  of  Illinois 
and  Missouri  during  the  time,  do  not  vary  in  any  ma- 
terial degree  from  the  above  statement. 

Diseases.  The  more  common  diseases  of  Illinois  are 
intermittents,  frequently  accompanied  with  bilious 
symptoms.  Those  which  prove  fatal  in  sickly  seasons 
are  bilious  remittents.  More  than  one  half  of  the  sick- 
ness endured  by  the  people  is  caused  by  imprudence, 
bad  management,  and  the  want  of  proper  nursing. 
Emigrants  from  the  northern  states,  or  from  Europe, 
will  find  it  advantageous  to  protect  themselves  from  the 
cool  and  humid  atmosphere  at  night,  to  provide  close 
dwellings,  yet,  when  the  atmosphere  is  clear,  to  have 
their  rooms,  and  especially  their  sleeping  rooms,  well 
ventilated,  and  invariably  wear  thin  clothing  in  the 
day,  and  put  on  thicker  apparel  at  night  or  when  ex- 
posed to  wet. 

Families   are    seldom  sick  who  live  in    comfortable 

houses  with  tight  floors  and  well  ventilated  rooms,  and 

who,  upon  a  change  of  weather,  and  especially  in  a  time 

:  of  rain,  make  a  little  fire  in  the  chimney,  though  it  may 

be  in  the  midst  of  summer. 


60  A    GAZETTEER 

I  have  seen  but  few  cases  of  genuine  consumption. 
Affection  of  the  liver  is  more  common.  Pleurisies,  and 
other  inflammatory  diseases,  prevail  in  the  winter  and 
spring.  Opthalmia  prevails  at  some  seasons.  Dysentery 
is  not  uncommon.  Fewer  die  in  infancy  than  in  the  old 
states. 

A  venerable  couple  of  my  acquaintance,  the  one  of 
the  age  of  63,  the  other  62  years,  have  had  nine  children, 
forty-three  grand  children  (of  which  nine  are  deceased) 
and  eight  great  grand  children.  Another  couple,  one 
of  which  is  now  deceased,  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1786, 
had  eleven  children  of  which  eight  are  still  living,  seven- 
ty-one grand  children,  and  eight  great  grand  children. 
The  widow  and  mother  of  all  this  posterity  is  active 
and  in  good  health  aged  64  years.  These  are  not  given 
as  singular  cases,  but  as  specimens  of  many  of  the  fa- 
milies of  the  early  American  emigrants. 

Finally,  I  am  prepared  to  speak  decidedly  in  favor  of 
the  general  health  of  Illinois. 

CIVIL    DIVISIONS. 

There  are  sixty  counties  within  the  state,  in  §fty-six 
of  which  courts  are  held.  In  the  others  the  judge  of 
the  circuit  where  they  lie,  is  authorized  to  organize 
them  by  appointing  an  election  for  county  officers  when- 
ever in  his  opinion  there  are  three  hundred  and  fifty 
inhabitants  within  their  boundaries.  Their  names, 
dates  of  formation,  number  of  square  miles,  estimated 
population  at  the  commencement  of  1834,  and  seats  of 
justice,  are  given  in  the  appendix. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  61 

For  the  purpose  of  electing  representatives  to  con- 
gress, the  state  is  divided  into  three  districts,  each  of 
which  sends  one  representative. 

The  first  district  is  composed  of  the  counties  of  Gal- 
latin,  Pope,  Johnson,  Alexander,  Union,  Jackson,  Frank- 
lin, Perry,  Randolph,  Monroe,  St.  Clair,  Washington, 
Clinton,  Bond,  Madison,  and  Macoupen. 

The  second  district  includes  the  counties  of  White, 
Hamilton,  Jefferson,  Wayne,  Edwards,  Wabash,  Law- 
rence, Clay,  Marion,  Fayette,  Montgomery,  Shelby, 
Vermilion,  Champaign,  Edgar,  Coles,  Clark,  Iroquois, 
Crawford,  Effingham  and  Jasper. 

The  third  district  is  composed  of  the  following  coun- 
ties: Greene,  Morgan,  Sangamon,  Tazewell,  Macon, 
McLean,  La  Salle,  Cook,  Putnam,  Peoria,  Henry,  Jo 
Daviess,  Rock  Island,  Mercer,  Warren,  Hancock,  Me 
Donough,  Fulton,  Knox,  Schuyler,  Adams,  Pike  and 
Calhoun. 

For  judiciary  purposes  the  state  is  divided  into  five, 
circuits,  in  four  of  which  the  judges  of  the  supreme 
court  perform  circuit  duties.  To  the  fifth  circuit  a 
circuit  judge  has  been  appointed. 

The  first  judicial  circuit  embraces  the  counties  of  Pike, 
Calhoun,  Greene,  Morgan,  Sangamon,  Tazewell,  Ma- 
con,  Me  Lean,  and  Macoupen. 

The  second  judicial  circuit  includes  the  counties  of 
Madison,  St.  Clair,  Monroe,  Randolph,  Washington, 
Clinton,  Bond,  Shelby,  Fayette,  and  Montgomery. 

The  third  judicial  circuit,  includes  the  counties  of  Gal- 
latin,  Pope,  Johnson,  Alexander,  Union,  Jackson,  Perry, 
Franklin,  Marion,  Jefferson,  and  Hamilton. 


62  A    GAZETTEER 

The  fourth  judicial  circuit  embraces  the  counties  of 
White,  Edwards,  W  abash,  Lawrence,  Wayne,  Clark, 
Crawford ,  Edgar,  Vermilion ,  Iroquois ,  Champaign ,  Coles , 
Jasper,  Effiingham,  and  Clay. 

The  fifth  judiciary  circuit  embraces  the  counties  of 
Cook,  La  Salle,  Putnam,  Peoria,  Fulton,  Schuyler, 
Adams,  Hancock,  Me  Donough,  Knox,  Warren,  Jo  Da- 
viess,  Mercer,  Rock  Island,  and  Henry. 

Provision  is  made  by  law  for  the  holding  of  courts  in 
all  these  counties  excepting  Jasper,  Iroquois,  Henry, 
and  Mercer,  which  are  attached  to  adjacent  counties 
for  judicial  purposes. 

It  is  very  probable  the  next  legislature  will  make 
some  changes;  perhaps  organize  new  circuits. 

Counties  are  not  subdivided  into  townships  as  in  In- 
diana, Ohio,  and  the  more  eastern  states.  For  the 
convenience  of  holding  elections,  the  county  commis- 
sioner's court  is  required  to  divide  the  county  into 
"precincts"  and  designate  the  house  or  place  in  each 
precinct  where  the  polls  shall  be  opened. 

Electors  throughout  the  county  vote  at  which  pre- 
cinct they  please. 

GOVERNMENT. 

The  constitution  of  Illinois  was  formed  by  a  conven- 
tion held  at  Kaskaskia,  in  August,  1818.  It  provides 
for  the  distribution  of  the  powers  of  government  into 
three  distinct  departments. — The  legislative,  executive, 
and  judiciary.  The  legislative  authority  is  vested  in  a 
general  assembly,  consisting  of  a  senate  and  house  of 


OF    ILLINOIS.  63 

representatives.  Elections  are  held  biennially,  as  are 
the  ordinary  sessions  of  the  legislature.  Senators  are 
elected  for  four  years. 

The  executive  power  is  vested  in  the  governor,  who 
is  chosen  every  fourth  year  by  the  electors  for  repre- 
sentatives, but  the  same  person  is  ineligible  for  the 
next  succeeding  four  years.  The  lieutenant  governor 
is  also  chosen  every  four  years. 

The  judicial  power  is  vested  in  a  supreme  court,  and 
such  inferior  courts  as  the  general  assembly  from  time 
to  time  shall  establish.  The  supreme  court  consists  of 
a  chief  justice  and  three  associate  judges. 

The  governor  and  judges  of  the  supreme  court  con- 
stitute a  council  of  revision,  to  which  all  bills  that  have 
passed  the  assembly  must  be  submitted.  If  objected  to 
by  the  council  of  revision,  the  same  may  become  a  law 
by  the  vote  of  a  majority  of  all  the  members  elected  to 
both  houses. 

The  following  synopsis  of  the  public  officers,  terms  of 
service,  manner  of  appointment,  and  compensation,  (with  a 
few  alterations,)  is  copied  from  the  "Illinois  Monthly 
Magazine"  by  James  Hall,  esq.  vol.  2.  page  8. 

"Governor — Elected  by  the  people,  for  four  years; 
salary,  $100;  eligible  for  one  term  only  in  succession; 
salary  cannot  be  diminished  during  his  continuance  in 
office. 

Lieutenant  Governor — elected  by  the  people,  for  four 
years;  paid  per  day  during  the  session  of  the  legislature; 
$5  per  day  during  the  Jast  session,  He  is  speaker  of 


64  A  GAZETTEER 

the  senate,  and  becomes  governor  in  case  of  a  vacancy 
in  the  latter  office. 

Secretary  of  State — appointed  by  the  governor  and 
senate  during  pleasure;  salary  $1000  to  include  clerk 
hire,  with  fees  of  office.  Office  at  Vandalia. 

'  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts — elected  by  the  legislature 
biennially;  salary  $1,400  including  clerk  hire;  with 
121  cents  for  each  copy  of  deeds.  Office  at  Vandalia. 

Treasurer — elected  by  the  legislature  biennially;  sa- 
lary $800  and  two  clerks  of  $400  each.  Office  at  Van- 
dalia. 

State  Recorder,  for  deeds  of  non-residents,  &c.  Office 
abolished  June  1st,  1833.  Deeds  are  now  to  be  recorded 
in  thetounty  where  the  land  is  situated. 

Adjutant  General — appointed  by  the  governor  during 
pleasure;  salary  $100.  Office  at  Vandalia. 

Supreme  Judges — elected  by  the  legislature  during 
good  behavior;  salary  $800,  extra  services  for  circiut 
duties,  $200. 

Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court — appointed  by  the  court 
during  good  behavior; — fees.  Office  at  Vandalia. 

Clerks  of  the  Circuit  Courts — appointed  by  the  courts, 
during  good  behavior;  fees.  Offices  at  the  respective 
seats  of  justice. 

One  Circuit  Judge — elected  by  the  legislature,  during 
good  behavior;  salary  $900. 

Attorney  General — elected  by  the  legislature,  bienni- 
ally; salary  $350  and  fees.  Office  to  be  kept  at  Van- 
dalia. 

Four  Stales'  Attorneys — appointed  by  the  governor  and 
senate  for  four  years;  salary  $250,  and  fees. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  65 

Superintendent  of  the  Gallatin  county  Salines — felected 
by  the  legislature,  for  four  years;  salary  $350. 

Commissioner  for  the  sale  of  Saline  Lands — elected  by 
the  legislature  biennially;  salary  $400. 

Canal  Commissioners — office  abolished. 

Warden  of  the  Penitentiary — elected  by  the  legislature 
for  four  years;  salary  $300.     Three  Inspectors  of  the  same, 
appointed  by  the  governor  and  senate  biennially;  com- 
pensation, $2  per  day,  but  not  to  exceed  $50  per  annum. 
General  Assembly. 

Number  of  Senators,  26 — elected  for  four  years. 

Number  of  Representatives,  55 — elected  biennially; 
compensation  regulated  by  law  each  session;  $3  per 
day  last  session. 

Officers  of  the  General  Assembly. 

Lieutenant  Governor,  (Speaker  of  the  Senate,}  pay  last 
session,  $5  per  day. 

Secretary  of  the  Senate — pay  at  last  session,  $5  per 
day,  and  $250  for  furnishing  a  copy  of  his  journal  for 
the  press. 

Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Senate — pay  at  last  session, 
$3  50  cents  per  day. 

Enrolling  and  Engrossing1  Clerk  of  the  Senate — pay  at 
last  session,  $4  per  day. 

Door-keeper  of  the  Senate — pay  at  last  session  $3 
per  day. 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives — pay  at  last 
session,  §5  per  day.  x 

Principal  Clerk  of  the  H.  of  .R.—pay  at  the  last  ses- 
sion, §5  per  day,  and  $250  for  preparing  his  journal  for 
the  press. 


66  A  GAZETTEER 

Assistant  Clerk  of  the  H.  of  R. — pay  at  last  session, 
S3  50  per  day. 

Enrolling  and  Engrossing  Clerk  of  the  H>  of  R. — pay  at 
last  session,  S4  per  day. 

Door-keeper  of  the  H.  of  R. — pay  at  last  session,  $3 
per  day. 

There  is  a  little  variation  in  compensation  each  ses- 
sion. The  above  synopsis  gives  about  the  ordinary 
amount.  The  legislature  usually  sits  biennially  from 
60  to  90  days.  Last  session  continued  91  days.  Con- 
siderable time  was  occupied  by  the  senate  as  a  high 
court  of  impeachment  in  case  of  one  of  the  judges,  and 
by  the  assembly  in  revising  the  laws.  The  whole  amount 
of  the  salaries  of  officers  is  about  $13,500  annually. 

The  amount  of  the  pay  of  the  legislature,  with  the 
present  number  of  members,  at  a  session  of  seventy- 
five  days,  at  three  dollars  per  day,  $18,225. 

Officers  and  clerks  of  the  legislature,  $3,350. 

Contingent  expenses  per  session,  for  fuel,  stationary, 
repair  of  the  state  house,  furniture,  etc. ,$2,500. 

Making  the  biennial  expenses  for  legislation,  about 
$23,775,  or  say  $24,000,  or  $12,000  per  annum. 

The  ordinary  disbursements  of  the  contingent  fund 
are  about  $6,000  annually;  making  the  whole  ordinary 
annual  expenditures  of  the  state  about  $31,500. 

The  revenue  of  the  state  is  derived  principally  from 
land  taxes,  rents  of  salines,  and  sale  of  Vandalia  lots. 
Its  amount  is  about  fifty  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 
The  excess  over  the  expenditures  is  expended  in  paying 
debts  and  interest,  and  in  special  appropriations  for  a 
variety  of  incidental  purposes. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  67 

County  Officers. 

Judges  of  Probate — elected  by  the  legislature,  during 
good  behavior;  fees. 

Sheriff's — elected  by  the  people,  biennially;  fees. 

Coroners-delected  by  the  people,  biennially;  fees. 

County  Commissioners — three  in  each  county,  to  man- 
age county  concerns; — elected  by  the  people  biennially; 
§1  50  per  day  while  employed  in  court.  Sessions,  first 
Mondays  in  March,  June,  September,  and  December. 

County  Clerk — appointed  by  the  county  commissioners 
during  good  behavior;  fees,  and  per  diem  allowance  du- 
ring sessions  of  court. 

County  Treasurer — appointed  by  the  county  commis- 
sioners annually;  per  centage  and  per  diem  allowance, 
on  moneys  received  and  services  performed. 

County  Surveyors — appointed  by  the  legislature  during 
good  behavior;  fees. 

Justices  of  the  Peace — elected  by  the  people  every 
four  years;  fees. 

Constables — elected  by  the  people  every  four  years; 
fees. 

Notaries  Public — appointed  by  the  governor  and 
senate,  during  good  behavior;  fees. 

.  Supervisors  of  Roads — appointed  by  the  county  com- 
missioners annually;  exempt  from  militia  duty  and  serv- 
ing on  juries,  but  receive  no  other  compensation. 

Public  Administrator — appointed  by  the  governor  and 
senate,  term  indefinite;  fees. 

Commissioner  of  the  school  funds  arising  from  the  sale 
of  the  sections  numbered  sixteen;  appointed  by  the 
county  commissioners,  who  fix  his  compensation. 


A    GAZETTEER 

The  right  of  suffrage  is  universal.  All  white  male  in- 
habitants, twenty-one  years  of  age,  who  have  resided 
within  the  state  six  months  next  preceding  the  elections , 
enjoy  the  right  of  electors. 

Votes  are  given  viva  vocc.  The  introduction  of  slave- 
ry is  prohibited.  The  constitution  can  be  altered  only 
by  a  convention. 

PLANS  OF  INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENT. 

The  project  of  uniting  the  navigable  waters  of  the 
Illinois  river  and  lake  Michigan  was  conceived  soon 
after  the  commencement  of  the  grand  canal  of  New 
York.  Accordingly  the  legislature,  in  February,  1S2J3, 
appointed  a  board  of  commissioners  to  survey  the  route 
and  estimate  the  cost,  and  make  report  to  the  next 
legislature,  which  was  done.  'These  commissioners  em- 
ployed Col.  Post,  and  Col.  Paul  of  Missouri  as  engineers. 
They  examined  five  different  routes  for  a  portion  of  the 
distance,  and  estimated  the  expense  of  each  route.  They 
varied  from  about  $640,000,  to  $716,000.  The  estimate 
of  the  fifth  route  was  upon  the  project  of  using  lake  Michi- 
gan alone  fora  feeder  by  directing  a  portion  of  its  waters 
to  the  Illinois  river,  and  was  a  fraction  short  of  $690,000. 

Upon  the  report  of  these  surveys  the  legislature  passed 
a  bill  to  incorporate  the  "Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal 
Company,"  in  January,  1825.  No  stock  having  been 
taken,  the  legislature,  at  a  special  session,  the  next 
winter,  repealed  the  law  chartering  the  company. 

The.  embarrassments  of  the  state  in  its  finances, 
growing  out  of  the  ruinous  policy  of  a  state  toank  with- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  69 

out  capital,  prevented  anything  further  from  being  done 
until  January,  1829,  when  the  legislature  passed  an  act 
to  organize  a  board  of  commissioners,  with  power  to 
employ  agents,  engineers,  surveyors,  draftsmen,  and 
other  persons,  to  explore,  examine,  fix  and  determine 
the  route  of  the  canal. 

The  congress  of  the  United  States  had  made  provision 
by  an  act  passed  March  2nd,  1827,  to  give  the  state  each 
alternate  section  of  land,  within  five  miles  of  the  con- 
templated canal. 

The  commissioners  were  authorised  to  sell  this  land, 
to  lay  off  town  sites  and  sell  lots,  and  apply  the  funds. 

Accordingly  they  laid  off  Chicago  near  the  lake,  and 
Ottawa,  at  the  junction  of  Fox  river  and  the  Illinois. 
Town  lots  and  tracts  of  land  were  sold,  a  skillful  en- 
gineer employed,  surveys  were  made  with  more  particu- 
larity, the  surface  of  the  earth  perforated,  the  waters 
at  a  low  stage  examined,  and  estimates  of  the  expense 
made.  It  was  now  ascertained  that  a  supply  of  water 
in  dry  seasons,  from  the  streams  on  its  route,  was 
doubtful,  and  that  the  rock  approached  so  near  the  sur- 
face on  the  summit  level  between  the  Chicago,  and  the 
Des  Plaines,  as  to  present  a  serious  obstacle  to  using- 
the  lake  for  a  feeder. 

The  subsequent  legislature  authorised  a  re-examina- 
tion to  be  made  with  a  view  to  a  railway,  and  to  ascer- 
tain whether  the  waters  of  the  Calamic  could  not  be 
obtained  in  sufficient  quantities  for  a  feeder. 

The  result  was  in  the  report  of  the  engineer  to  the 
commissioners,  and  by  them  to  the  legislature,  decidedly 


70  A  GAZETTEER 

in  favor  of  a  railway.     To  this    project  congress    Las 
given  its  assent. 

Two  estimates  of  the  expense  of  a  canal  were  sub- 
mitted. The  first  was  on  the  plan  of  following  the  sum- 
mit ten  feet  above  the  level  of  lake  Michigan  and  de- 
pend on  streams  for  feeders. 

Total  cost  of  the  entire  line  of  95|  miles  $1,601,965  83. 
Cost  on  the  same  location  by  obtaining  a  supply  of  water 
from  lake  Michigan,  by  cutting  through  the  dividing 
ridge  between  the  lake  and  the  head  waters  of  the  Illi- 
nois river,  much  of  it  rock  excavation,  $4,043,056  50. 

The  estimated  cost  of  a  railway  with  a  single  track 
laid,  distance  96  miles,  is  $1,052,423  19. 

During  the  summer  of  1832,  the  late  Mr.  Pugh,  visited 
New  York  to  obtain  information  of  the  relative  cost  and 
value  of  canals  and  railways,  and  to  ascertain  whether 
funds  could  be  obtained,  and  on  what  terms,  to  com- 
plete this  work. 

The  canal  lands  now  belonging  to  the  state  are  re- 
ported to  be  about  304,709  acres,  worth  at  least  one 
dollar  per  acre.  Of  this  quantity  one  fifth  is  reported 
to  be  timber,  the  remainder  prairie. 
;  The  state  not  having  means  at  its  disposal,  and  the 
session  having  drawn  towards  a  close,  the  whole  business 
was  postponed,  by  abolishing  the  office  of  canal  commis- 
sioners; but  the  expectation  is  that  the  business  will  be 
resumed  and  something  definitely  done  next  session  cf 
the  legislature. 

During  the  last  year,  the  project  of  opening  a  steam- 
boat navigation  from  the  lake  to  the  navigable  part  of 
the  Illinois  river,  has  been  seriously  agitated  in  Penn- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  71 

sylvania,  and  elsewhere.  The  project  as  a  national  en- 
terprise is  practicable,  but  it  is  questionable,  even  if 
the  general  government  could  be  induced  to  take  hold 
of  it,  whether  the  immense  cost  would  justify  the  under- 
taking, and  whether  a  railway  would  not  on  the  whole 
be  preferable.  The  latter  could  be  used  the  whole  year, 
whereas  a  canal  would  not  be  in  use  more  than  eight 
months. 

An  estimate  was  made  by  the  engineer  of  the  cost  of 
a  McAdamized  turnpike,  from  which  it  appears  that 
it  would  much  exceed  that  of  a  rail  way  with  a  single 
track,  while  the  facilities  of  transportation  would  be  in 
favor  of  the  latter  as  ten  to  one. 

The  importance  of  opening  a  communication  between 
Chicago,  and  the  foot  of  the  rapids  of  Illinois,  cannot 
be  placed  in  too  strong  a  light.  It  must  be  done,  and 
whatever  must  be,  will  be  done. 

Already  commerce,  in  no  small  extent,  is  passing 
along  that  line.  Merchants  from  St.  Louis,  from  along 
the  Illinois  river,  from  Galena  and  the  Wisconsin  ter- 
ritory, and  especially  from  the  Wabash  riv$r  as  far 
south  as  Terre  Haute,  bring  their  goods  that  way. 

Were  a  communication  opened  between  the  navigable 
waters,  the  distance  from  New  York  to  St.  Louis  would 
be  passed  in  from  sixteen  to  twenty  days. 

The  following  result  is  founded  upon  information 
gathered  by  the  commissioners. 

From  New  York  to  Buffalo,  5  days.— From  Buffalo 
to  Chicago,  by  steamboats  fitted  for  lake  navigation,  8 
days. — From  Chicago  to  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  on  the 
railway,  estimating  the  speed  at  10  miles  an  hour,  10 


72  A    GAZETTEER 

hours. — -From  the  foot    of  the  rapids  to  St.  Louis,    In 
steamboats,  49  hours. 

Allowing  14  hours  for  delays,  the  whole  distance  is 
passed  over  in  sixteen  days.  But  giving  four  days  ad- 
ditional time,  and  the  transportation  on  this  route  is 
made  in  twenty  days. 

The  shipments  through  Chicago  in  1832,  amounted  to 
300,000  dollars.  In  1833,  from  April  8  to  Sept.  10, 
70  schooners  and  2  steamboats  had  discharged  their 
cargoes. 

The  charges  per  hundred  pounds  on  freight  from  New 
York  to  Chicago  is  from  one  dollar  forty  to  one  dollar 
fifty  cents.  When  the  harbor  at  the  latter  place  is  com- 
pleted, the  charges  will  be  still  less. 

The  project  has  been  started  of  connecting  the  navi- 
gable waters  of  the  Illinois  with  those  of  the  Wabash 
and  Erie  canal  in  Indiana,  by  a  railway,  and,  possibly 
such  a  communication  may  be  made  in  time,  but  it 
ought  to  have  no  bearing  upon  the  contemplated  com- 
munication with  lake  Michigan.  The  latter  project 
must  go  forward,  and  the  sooner  it  is  accomplished,  the 
better  will  it  be  for  the  interests  of  the  state.  In  such 
a  work  no  local  feelings  or  partial  interests  ought  to  be 
allowed  to  operate.  Every  portion  of  the  state  ought 
to  feel  interested  m  the  concern.  Indeed  the  com- 
mercial, and  consequently  the  agricultural  interests  of 
the  whole  valley  of  the  Mississippi  are  concerned  in  the 
result  of  this  enterprise.  For  whatever  produce  is 
thrown  off  through  this  channel  to  the  Canadas  and  Neu 
York,  increases  the  advantages  of  a  market  for  the 
commerce  that  floats  down  the  Mississippi.  And  Missou- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  /3 

ri  and  the  Wisconsin  territory  are  no  less  interested  in 
opening  this  communication.  In  accepting  the  donation 
of  land  made  by  the  general  government,  the  honor  and 
credit  of  Illinois  is  really  pledged  for  the  success  of  this 
enterprise.  There  is  then  no  ground  for  retreat. 

I  regret  the  prescribed  limits  of  this  work,  will  not 
permit  me  to  exhibit  the  important  bearing  that  the 
success  of  this  project  will  have  upon  the  fur  business, 
the  lead  manufacture,  the  Indian  trade,  the  rapid  settle- 
ment and  improvement  of  all  the  northern  portion  of  the 
state,  and  the  adjacent  territory,  and  upon  the  pros- 
perity of  the  farming  community  throughout  our  whole 
interior. 

It  ought  to  be  noticed  that  a  project  is  now  in  agita- 
tion in  Michigan  to  construct  a  railway  across  the 
peninsula  from  Detroit  to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph's 
river,  which  enters  lake  Michigan  nearly  opposite  and 
east  from  Chicago.  This  would  save  the  circuitous 
route  by  water,  and  greatly  lessen  the  distance  and  risk. 

The  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Wabash 
river,  especially  at  the  rapids,  is  another  enterprise  in 
which  the  state  is  concerned  alike  with  Indiana,  and 
for  which  some  means  are  already  provided,  from  the 
sale  of  saline  lands  in  Gallatin  county. 

In  1823,  Thomas  S.  Hinde  of  Illinois,  and  William 
Polkc  of  Indiana,  as  joint  commissioners  of  these  states, 
made  an  examination  of  the  Wabash  river,  especially 
about  the  grand  rapids,  near  Mount  Carmel,  and  for  15 
miles  above  and  below. 

They  reported  that  but  few  obstructions  exist  from 
the  mouth  to  the  source  of  this  river,  excepting  the 


74  A    GAZETTEER 

rapids.  "Coffee  island  ripple,"  and  "Little  rock  ripple," 
were  the  extreme  points  of  examination. 

J.  L.  Smith,  a  United  •States  engineer,  by  authority 
of  the  engineering  department  of  government,  surveyed 
the  Wabash  river  in  1830.  He  specifies  three  kinds  of 
obstructions.  1.  Rock  bars.  2.  Sand  bars.  3.  Snags 
and  sunken  logs.  He  mentions  rock  bars  as  extending 
from  the  mouth  of  Eel  river  to  Deer  creek,  near  Delphi, 
in  Cass  and  Carroll  counties,  Indiana,  about  20  miles 
above  Lafayette.  Again  rock  bars  commence  at 
Little  rock  rapids,  15  miles  above  Vincennes,  and  ex- 
tend to  the  mouth  of  Patoka  creek,  and  again  below 
Mount  Carmel.  Mr.  Smith  gives  the  decided  preference 
to  improving  the  rapids  by  dams  and  wing  dams  of 
round  logs,  and  crib  work  filled  with  stones,  and  covered 
with  plank  on  the  upper  side.  He  estimates  the  cost  of 
improving  the  rapids  below  Vincennes  at  11,033 

Extras 3,545 

$14,579 

Cost  of  removing  all  the  sand  bars  in  the  river          37,333 
32  obstructions  of  sunken  logs  and  snags,  viz: 
21  do  of  snags  in  deep  water, 

2  do  of  snags  in  shallow  water, 

6  do  of  sunken  logs  in  deep  water, 

3  do  of  sunken  logs  in  shallow  water. 
Cost  of  removing  all  those  which  obstruct  the 

navigation,  at  200  dollars  each     ,     .     .     .  5,200 

Cost  of  clamming,  excavating,  and  removing 
the  ripples  both  in  Carroll  county,  and 
those  at  White  river 16,552 


OF    ILLINOIS.  75 

Cost  of  improving  the  whole  W abash  river 

to  the  head  of  navigation 73,630 

Cost  of  improving  that  portion  of  l^he  river 
with  which  Illinois  has  joint  interest  with 
Indiana  .  .  .  ' 31,130 

Half  expense  for  Illinois 15,565 

Of  this  amount,  this  state  has  appropriated  12,000 
dollars  from  the  sale  of  saline  lands,  and  appointed  a 
commissioner  to  superintend  the  work.  This  step  on 
the  part  of  Illinois  has  been  met  by  a  corresponding' 
one  on  the  part  of  Indiana,  at  the  late  session  of  its 
legislature,  which  has  appropriated  ^12,000  and  author- 
ised the  governor  to  appoint  a  commissioner  to  co-ope- 
rate with  the  one  from  Illinois.  Thus  24,000  dollars  is 
to  be  applied  speedily  in  removing  the  obstructions  to 
the  navigation  of  the  Wabash  so  far  as  the  two  states 
have  concurrent  jurisdiction. 

Some  appropriations  have  been  made  for  a  survey 
and  improvement  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  which  has 
been  partially  effected  by  an  examination  of  the  ob- 
structions, removal  of  trees,  etc.  It  is  thought  that  a 
slack  water  navigation  of  this  river  may  be  effected  at 
moderate  expense. 

The  improvement  of  the  Illinois  river  below  the  ra- 
pids ,  is  certainly  an  object  of  great  importance,  especial- 
ly to  the  interests  of  those  counties  which  lie  along  its 
borders.  The  chief  obstructions  are  sand  bars  at  low 
water,  which  may  be  deepened  at  an  expense  scarcely 
worth  naming  when  compared  to  the  interests  concerned. 

Other  works,  and  some  on  an  extensive  scale  -have 


76  A    GAZETTEER 


been  the  theme  of  conversation  and  newspaper  dis- 
cussion. It  is  thought  by  some  that  a  canal  or  railway, 
to  connect  the  navigable  waters  of  the  Illinois  with  those 
of  the  Wabash,  and  by  that  communication  with  lake 
Erie,  claims  the  attention  of  the  citizens  of  Illinois,  and 
and  the  states  which  would  receive  the  trade  of  this 
route. 

Another  project,  is  a  great  railway  from  the  Hudson 
river  in  New  York,  across  to  the  valley  of  the  Dela- 
ware, thence  to  the  Susquehanna  and  across  to  the  Alle- 
gheny river,  thence  along  the  rich  counties  of  Ohio  bor- 
deringon  lake  Erie,  passing  through  Indiana  towards  its 
northern  boundary,  and  to  the  head  of  steamboat  navi- 
gation on  the  Illinois  river,  and  touching  the  Mississippi 
near  the  foot  of  the  Des  Moines  rapids. 

The  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi 
should  be  regarded  and  urged  as  strictly  a  national  work. 
There  are  two  rapids  in  the  Mississippi  river,  which  in 
times  of  low  water,  impede  the  progress  of  steamboats. 
One  is  near  the  mouth  of  the  Des  Moines,  and  adjoining 
Hancock  county,  where  the  water  descends  over  sand 
rocks  25  feet  5  inches  in  about  11  miles.  The  other 
commences  at  Rock  Island  and  extends  about  fifteen 
miles.  The  descent  of  the  water  in  that  distance  is  21 
feet  10  inches.  In  both  of  these  rapids  there  are  ledges 
of  rocks,  with  intervals  of  deep  water,  extending  across 
the  river. 

Rock  river,  which  is  navigable  a  considerable  part  o* 
the  year  for  150  miles,  has  a  ripple  near  its  mouth,  and 
one  or  two  more  some  distance  up,  which  will  require 
removal. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  77 

The  harbor  at  Chicago,  now  in  progress,  by  the  gene- 
ral government  will  be  of  immense  benefit  to  that  place 
and  all  the  northern  portion  of  the  state.  When  this 
is  completed  it  will  form  one  of  the  finest  harbors  in  all 
the  northern  lake  country.  And  the  rise  of  the  branches 
of  the  Chicago,  at  the  breaking  up  of  winter,  has  cut 
through  the  bar  at  the  mouth,  so  as  to  leave  a  channel  of 
8  or  10  feet  deep,  and  permit  small  vessels  to  enter  the 
river. 

The  National  Road  is  in  progress  through  this  state, 
and  considerable  improvement  has  been  made  on  that 
portion  which  lies  between  Yandalia  and  the  boundary 
of  Indiana.  This  road  enters  Illinois  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Clark  county,  and  passes  diagonally  through 
Coles  and  Effingham  counties  in  a  southwesterly  course 
to  Vandalia,  a  distance  of  90  miles.  The  road  is  esta- 
blished 80  feet  wide,  the  central  part,  30  feet  wide, 
raised  above  standing  water,  and  not  to  exceed  three 
degrees  from  a  level.  The  base  of  all  the  abutments  of 
bridges  must  be  equal  in  thickness  to  one  third  of  the 
height  of  the  abutment. 

This  work  has  been  suspended  during  the  last  year, 
while  some  investigations  of  the  quality  of  the  work 
heretofore  performed  were  making. 

Upwards  of  90,000  dollars  of  former  appropriations 
remain  unexpended.  The  road  is  not  yet  placed  in  a 
traveling  condition.  The  line  of  the  road  is  nearly  di- 
rect, the  loss  in  90  miles  being  only  the  88th  part  of 
one  per  cent.  Between  Vandalia  and  Ewington,  for23 
miles  it  does -not  deviate  in  the  least  from  a  direct  line. 

From  Vandalia  westward,  the  road  is  not  yet  located, 


78  A    GAZETTEER 

and  whether  it  will  strike  the  Mississippi  at  St.  Louis, 
Alton,  or  some  other  point  above  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
souri river,  is  undetermined. 

It  is  understood,  however,  that  a  new  survey,  with 
reference  to  this  decision,  will  be  made  this  year. 

A  bill  is  now  before  congress,  making  an  appropriation 
of  90,000  dollars  to  improve  the  principal  mail  route 
from  Louisville,  Ky.  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  one  half  to  be 
applied  within  Illinois.  Should  this  bill  pass  it  would 
prove  of  essential  benefit  to  the  country. 

Appropriations  to  a  limited  extent  have  been  made  by 
the  legislature  of  the  state,  for  roads  and  bridges. 
Surveys  and  locations  of  roads  have  been  made,  in  many 
instances  upon  state  authority,  but  their  improvement 
has  been  left  to  the  counties  through  which  they  pass. 

The  general  features  of  the  country  afford  facilities 
for  traveling  with  convenience  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  year  without  much  expense  in  artificial  roads, 
but  it  is  to  be  hoped  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when 
railways  will  be  constructed  to  form  lines  of  intercom- 
munication with  the  most  important  points. 

EDUCATION. 

The  congress  of  the  United  States,  in  the  act  of 
admitting  the  state  of  Illinois  into  the  Union  upon  equal 
footing  with  the  other  western  states,  granted  to  it  the 
section  numberedm^eeTiin  every  township,  or  one  thirty- 
sixth  part  of  all  the  public  lands  within  the  state,  for  the 
use  of  schools.  The  avails  of  this  section  is  understood 
to  constitute  a  fund  for  the  special  benefit  of  the  families 


OF    ILLINOIS.  79 

living1  within  the  surveyed  township,  and  not  the  portion 
of  a  common  fund  to  be  applied  by  the  state  for  the 
general  purposes  of  education. 

Three  per  cent  of  the  net  proceeds  of  all  the  public 
lands,  lying,  within  this  state,  which  shall  be  sold  after 
the  1st  of  January,  1819,  is  to  be  paid  over  by  the  gene- 
ral government,  and  constityte  a  common  fund  for  edu- 
cation, under  the  direction  of  the  state  authority.  One 
sixth  of  this  three  per  cent,  fund,  is  to  be  exclusively 
bestowed  upon  a'college  or  university. 

Two  entire  townships,  or  46,080  acres  selected  from 
choice  portions  of  the  public  lands,  have  likewise  been 
given  to  education.  Part  of  this  land  has  been  sold  by 
state  authority  and  the  avails  funded  at  six  per  cent, 
interest. 

The  amount  of  funds  realized  from  these  sources,  and 
under  charge  of  the  state,  (independent  of  the  sixteenth 
sections,)  is  $108,843  56,  for  the  use  of  which,  the  state 
pays  six  per  cent,  interest,  which  is  to  be  added  annually 
to  the  principal. 

It  will  be  kept  in  mind  that  the  income  of  three  per 
cent,  for  sale  of  public  lands  will  continue  as  long  as 
lands  are  sold  within  the  state,  by  the  authorities  of 
the  general  government,  and  that  more  than  the  amount 
of  one  entire  township  of  seminary  land  still  remains 
unsold,  the  value  of  which  ought  to  be  estimated  at  not 
less  than  40,000  dollars. 

The  unsold  lands  in  this  state  belonging  to  the  gene- 
ral government,  are  not  less  than  25,000,000  acres. 
Were  this  sold  at  the  present  minimum  price,  it  would 
produce  31,222,222  dollars,  of  which  three  per  cent, 
would  be  936,666  dollars. 


A    GAZETTEER 

But  it  is  highly  probable  that  this  immense  domain 
v/ili  not  all  be  sold  at  its  present  price;  we  will  place 
the  average  value  at  75  cents  per  acre,  or  18,777,77^ 
dollars  of  which  three  per  cent,  belonging  to  the  state 
wottld  be  563,333  dollars  for  education  purposes. 

The  amount  of  the  sections  numbered  sixteen,  and 
reserved  for  schools  in  the  respective  townships,  was 
estimated  by  the  commissioner  of  public  lands,  and  re- 
ported to  congress  in  April,  1932,  at  977,457  acres  in 
Illinois. 

If  this  section  is  not  valuable  it  may  be  relinquished 
and  other  public  lands  selected  in  its  stead.  It  is  not 
usually  sold  until  the  township  has  received  considera- 
ble population,  and  consequently  will  command  a  higher 
price  than  other  public  lands.  The  section  immediate- 
ly adjacent  to  Chicago  was  sold  last  autumn,  (after  re- 
serving twelve  acres)  for  $38,705,  or  j§61  63  per  acre. 
Other  tracts  have  been  sold  in  settled  portiops  of  the 
state  from  five  to  six  dollars  per  acre.  Estimating 
the  whole  at  the  present  minimum  price  of  public 
lands,  the  value  is  $1,211,933. 

Present  fund  at  interest, $108,843 

Value  of  seminary  lands  unsold     ....  40,000 

Value  of  sections  numbered  sixteen     .     .  1,211,933 
Estimate  of  the  3  per  cent,  fund  on  all  pub- 
lic land  now   unsold  in   the  state  at  75 

cents  per  acre 563,333 

1,924,109 


x  OF    ILLINOIS.  81 

Hence  the  funds  and  claims  of  Illinois  for  education 
purposes  may  be  estimated  at  not  less  than  two  millions 
of  dollars. 

But  it  is  sincerely  and  ardently  hoped  that  the  patri- 
otism, foresight,  intelligence,  and  liberality  of  congress, 
after  reducing  the  price  of  the  public  lands  to  the  aq- 
tual  settler  and  cultivator,  will  be  manifested  in  apply- 
ing all  future  proceeds  to  the  object  of  common  schools, 
by  some  equitable  appointment  amongst  the  several 
states  of  the  Union.  Hitherto  these  lands  have  been 
pledged  for  the  payment  of  the  national  debt.  That 
being  now  accomplished,  I  cannot  but  hope  this  question 
will  be  settled,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  parties, 
by  a  consecration  of  the  net  proceeds  to  the  noble,  be- 
nificent,  and  truly  national  purpose  of  educating  every 
child  in  the  Union.  Such  a  disposition  of  the  public 
domain  would  reflect  more  honor  on  this  nation,  and 
tend  more  to  its  aggrandizement,  than  a  hundred  wars  or 
a  thousand  victories.  It  would  provide  for  a  triumphant 
conquest  of  human  ignorance,  and  carry  joy  and  glad- 
ness to  millions  of  hearts. 

Notwithstanding  the  liberal  provision  in  funds  and 
lands  for  education,  little  has  yet  been  done  by  the  legis- 
lature in  providing  a  system  for  common  schools.  A 
law  was  framed  in  1825,  providing  for  school  districts  to 
become  incorporated,  by  the  action  of  the  county  com- 
missioners' courts,  upon  a  petition  of  a  majority  of  the 
qualified  voters  of  any  settlement.  The  voters  in  each 
district,  by  a  majority  of  votes,  could  levy  a  tax  not  ex- 
ceeding one  half  per  centum  on  property,  and  appoint 
trustees  and  other  officers  to  manage  the  business, 
6 


82  A  GAZETTEER 

This  feature  of  the  law  was  soon  made  unpopular,  and 
a  subsequent  legislature  repealed  that  portion  that 
authorized  the  levying  of  a  tax,  and  made  other  modifica- 
tions, by  which  it  remains  on  the  statute  book  as  a  mat- 
ter of  very  little  value. 

The  preamble  to  this  law  establishes  beyond  contro- 
versy, the  great  principles  for  legislative  authority  and 
aid  for  common  schools.  It  reads  thus : — 

"To  enjoy  our  rights  and  liberties,  we  must  under- 
stand them; — their  security  and  protection  ought  to  be 
the  first  object  of  a  free  people; — and  it  is  a  well  estab- 
lished fact  that  no  nation  has  ever  continued  long  in  the 
enjoyment  of  civil  and  political  freedom,  which  was 
not  both  virtuous  and  enlightened ; — and  believing  that 
the  advancement  of  literature  always  has  been,  and  ever 
will  be  the  means  of  developing  more  fully  the  rights  of 
man;  that, the  mind  of  every  citizen  of  every  republic, 
is  the  common  property  of  society,  and  constitutes  the 
basis  of  its  strength  and  happiness  ; — it  is  considered 
the  peculiar  duty  of  a  free  government,  like  ours,  to  en- 
courage and  extend  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of 
the  intellectual  energies  of  the  whole:  Therefore, 

"Be  it  enacted,  etc." 

Provision  now  exists  by  law  for  the  people  to  organize 
themselves  into  school  districts,  and  tax  themselves 
by  consent,  and  to  conduct  the  affairs  of  the  school  in 
a  corporate  capacity  by  trustees,  but  they  can  derive 
no  aid  from  public  funds  under  control  of  the  state. 

Upon  petition  from  the  inhabitants  of  a  township,  the 
section  numbered  sixteen  can  be  sold,  and  the  proceeds 
funded,  the  interest  of  which  may  be  applied,  annually 


OF    ILLINOIS.  83 

to  the  teachers  of  such  schools  within  the  township  as 
conform  to  the  requisites  of  the  law.  To  some  extent, 
the  people  have  availed  themselves  of  these  provisions 
and  receive  the  interest  of  the  fund. 

A  material  defect  in  all  the  laws  that  have  been  fram- 
ed in  this  state,  on  this  subject,  has  been  in  not  requi- 
ring the  necessary  qualifications  on  the  part  of  teachers, 
and  a  previous  examination  before  a  competent  board  or 
committee. 

Without  such  a  provision  no  school  law  will  be  of  much 
real  service.  The  people  have  suffered  much  already, 
and  common  school  education  has  been  greatly  retarded 
by  the  imposition  of  unqualified  and  worthless  persons 
under  the  name  of  school  teachers;  and  were  funds  ever 
so  liberally  bestowed,  they  would  prove  of  little  real 
service,  without  the  requisites  of  sobriety,  morality,  and 
sufficient  ability  to  teach  well  on  the  part  of  those  who 
get  the  pay. 

A  complete  common  school  system  must  be  organized, 
sooner  or  later,  and  will  be  sustained  by  the  people. 
The  lands,  education  funds,  and  wants  of  the  country, 
call  for  it. 

Many  good  primary  schools  now  exist  without  a  legis- 
lative system,  and  where  three  or  four  of  the  leading 
families  unite  and  exert  their  influence  in  favor  of  the 
measure,  it  is  not  difficult  to  have  a  good  school. 

Several  seminaries,  and  institutions  for  colleges,  have 
been  established  and  promise  success. 

Illinois  College.  This  institution  is  located  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Jacksonville,  and  one  mile  west  of  the  town. 
Its  situation  is  on  a  delightful  eminence,  fronting  the 


84  A   GAZETTEER 

east,  and  overlooking  the  town,  and  a  vast  extent  of 
beautiful  prairie  country,  now  covered  with  well  culti^ 
vated  farms. 

This  institution  owes  its  existence  and  prosperity, 
under  God,  to  the  pious  enterprise  of  several  young  men , 
formerly  members  of  Yale  College,  Connecticut.  Most 
of  its  funds  have  been  realized  from  the  generous  dona- 
tions of  the  liberal  and  philanthropic  abroad. 

The  buildings  are  as  follows:  a  brick  edifice,  104  feet 
in  length,  40  feet  in  width,  five  stories  high,  including 
the  basement;  containing  32  apartments  for  the  accom- 
modation of  officers  and  students.  Each  apartment  con- 
sists of  a  sitting  room,  or  study,  14  feet  by  12,  two  bed 
rooms,  each  eight  feet  square,  two  dress  closets,  and  one 
wood  closet.  The  basement  story  embraces  a  boarding 
hall,  kitchen,  store  rooms,  etc.  for  the  general  accommo- 
.dation. 

To  this  main  building  are  attached  two  wings,  each 
38  feet  long,  and  28  feet  wide,  three  stories  high,  inclu- 
ding the  basement;  for  the  accommodation  of  the  fami- 
lies of  the  Faculty. 

The  chapel  is  a  separate  building,  65  feet  long,  and  36 
feet  wide,  tuo  stories  high,  including  rooms  for  public 
worship,  lectures,  recitations,  library,  etc.  and  eight 
rooms  for  students. 

There  are  also  upon  the  premises  a  farm  house,  barn, 
bakehouse,  workshops  for  students  who  wish  to  perform 
manual  labor,  and  other  out  buildings. 

The  farm  consists  of  300  acres  of  land,  all  under  fence. 
The  improvements  and  stock  on  the  farm  are  valued  at 
four  or  five  thousand  dollars.  The  stock  consists  of  100 


OF    ILLINOIS.  85 

head  of  cattle,  several  horses,  etc.  estimated  per  invoice 
at  $1196  50. 

Students  who  choese  are  allowed  to  employ  a  portion 
of  each  day  in  manual  labor,  either  upon  the  farm  or  in 
the  workshop.  The  amount  of  such  ^abor,  performed  last 
year  was  $912.  Some  individuals  earned  $150  each  du- 
ring the  year. 

The  library  consistsof  about  l,500volumes,onethird  of 
which  have  been  added  the  past  year,,and  it  is  continual- 
ly increasing.  There  is  also  a  valuable  chemical  appa- 
ratus. 

Th«  year  is  divided  into  two  terms,  of  twenty  weeks 
each.  The  first  term  commences  eight  weeks  after  the 
third  Wednesday  in  September.  The  second  term  com- 
mences on  the  Wednesday  previous  to  the  5th  of  May; 
leaving  eight  weeks  vacation  in  the  fall  and  four  in  the 
spring. 

There  are  16  students  connected  with  the  college 
classes,  and  66  students  in  the  preparatory  department. 
Of  this  number,  ten  are  beneficiaries,  who  are  aided  by 
education  societies,  with  a  view  to  the  gospel  ministry. 
A  considerable  number  more  are  pious. 

The  trustees  of  the  college  are  Rev.  Edward  Beecher, 
President,  Hon.  Samuel  D.  Lockwood,  John  P.  Wilkin- 
son, Esq.,  William  C.  Posey,  Esq.,  Rev.  Messrs.  Theron 
Baldwin,  John  F.  Brooks,  Elisha  Jenney,  William  Kir- 
by,  Asa  Turner,  John  G.  Bergen,  and  John  Tillson,  Esq. 
John  P.  Wilkinson  is  treasurer,  Joel  Catlin,  agent,  and 
Abraham  Clark  steward. 


86  A  GAZETTEER 

FACULTY. 

REV.  EDWARD  BEECHER,  A.  M.  President. 

REV.  JULIAN  M.  STURTEVANT,  A.  M.  Professor  of  Mathe- 
matics and  Natural  Philosophy. 

TRUMAN  M.  POST,  A.  M.  Professor  of  Languages. 

JONATHAN  B.  TURNER,  A.  B.  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and 
Belles  Lettres. 

ERASTUS  COLTON,  A.  B.  Instructor  in  the  Preparatory  De- 
partment. 

HENRY  JONES,  M.  D.  Lecturer  on  Chemistry. 

Jilton  Seminary,  intended  as  the  foundation  of  a  college, 
is  pleasantly  situated  at  Upper  Alton,  and  immediately 
adjoining  the  town.  This  institution  is  in  fact  the  con- 
tinuation of  one  gotten  up  at  Rock  Spring,  in  1827. 
The  school  commenced  under  its  present  form,  and  in 
the  seminary  building,  the  first  of  the  present  year, 
under  charge  of  Rev.  HubbelLoomis,  and  John  Russell, 
Esq.  both  of  whom  are  known  as  able  and  experienced 
instructors,  and  contained,  in  April,  between  fifty  and 
sixty  students. 

The  building  is  of  brick,  three  stories  high,  including 
abasement  of  stone;  forty  feet  long  and  thirty-two  feet 
wide,  including  a  public  hall,  library  room,  and  rooms 
for  students.  Preparations  are  now  making  to  erect  a 
commodious  boarding  house,  and  workshop,  where  stu- 
dents can  perform  manual  labor.  Three  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  valuable  land,  chiefly  timber,  are  attached 
to  the  premises.  A  library  of  several  hundred  volumes, 
globes,  maps,  orrery,  a  complete  chemical,  and  some 
other  philosophical  apparatus  are  provided. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  37 

Three  objects  in  particular  are  kept  in  view  by  the 
projectors  of  this  institution. 

First,  the  education  of  the  students  of  any  grade,  in 
the  best  manner  possible,  and  especially  those  whose 
resources  are  limited. 

Secondly,  the  education  of  teachers  for  common 
schools,  and  by  this  means  to  extend  the  blessing  of  a 
good  primary  education  to  others,  by  aiding  those  who 
wish  to  become  well  qualified  to  teach  primary  schools. 

Thirdly,  furnishing  better  facilities  for  the  education 
of  such  brethren  in  the  ministry  as  the  churches  may  ap- 
prove, than  has  been  heretofore  enjoyed  in  this  country. 

The  trustees  of  this  institution  are,  Rev.  Hubbel 
Loomis,  President,  Enoch  Long,  B.  F.  Edwards,  Will- 
iam Manning,  Stephen  Griggs,  Cyrus  Edwards,  George 
Smith,  J.  M.  Peck,  Justus  Rider,  and  James  Lemen. 

Union  College,  is  the  name  of  an  institution  which  ob- 
tained corporate  powers  at  the  last  session  of  the  legis- 
lature. Its  location  is  at  Columbia,  on  the  borders  of 
the  Flat  Prairie,  in  the  eastern  part  of  Randolph  coun- 
ty. Whether  it  has  gone  into  operation  or  not  is  un- 
known. 

Lebanon  Seminary.  This  institution  has  been  gotten 
up,  and  will  be  sustained  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  It  is  under  the  supervision  of  the  Illinois  con- 
ference. The  building  is  situated  on  elevated  ground 
in  St.  Clair  county,  near  Lebanon,  and  presents  a  hand- 
some view  from  the  St.  Louis  and  Vincennes  road.  It 
is  a  frame,  forty  feet  by  thirty-six,  two  stories,  with 
wings  on  each  side,  fourteen  by  sixteen  feet,  making  a 
front  of  sixty-eight  feet.  It  has  a  commodious  chapel. 


88  A    GAZETTEER     - 

or  recitation  hall,  a  separate  hall  for  a  female  depart- 
ment, and  several  rooms  for  students.  The  school  open4 
ed  the  first  of  April,  1834,  under  the  superintendence 
of  the  Rev.  Peter  Akers,  with  about  fifty-five  students. 
Other  instructors  will  be  provided  as  the  wants  of  the 
institution  require.  It  is  designed  as  the  foundation  of 
a  college. 

The  price  of  tuition  at  these  institutions  varies  from 
twelve  to  twenty  dollars  per  annum,  according  to  the 
branches  taught.  At  Alton  and  Lebanon  seminaries, 
classical  students  are  charged  sixteen  dollars  per  an- 
num. Boarding  per  week  is  from  one  dollar  to  one  dol- 
lar and  fifty  cents. 

A  Select  Boarding  School)  in  the  vicinity  of  Belleville 
has  been  taught  for  a  number  of  years  by  John  H.  Den- 
nis, Esq.  Charges  for  board  and  tuition,  seventy-five 
dollars  per  annum. 

A  common  and  classical  school  is  also  taught  in  Belle- 
ville by  Rev.  John  F.  Brooks  and  lady. 

Female  Academies  under  excellent  regulations,  and 
where  all  the  useful,  and  many  of  the  ornamental 
branches  are  taught  by  able  preceptresses,  are  esta- 
blished at  Edwardsville  and  Jacksonville.  Each  has  a 
commodious  building  and  other  accommodations. 

There  are  several  other  schools  where  more  advanced 
studies,  than  is  usual  in  primary  schools  can  be  pursued. 
An  academy  has  been  established  at  Chicago,  that  bids 
fair  to  become  an  important  institution. 

Several  associations  for  the  promotion  of  education 
and  the  encouragement  of  common  schools,  have  been 
organized  id  the  state. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  S 

The  "Illinois  Branch  of  the  American  Education  Socie- 
ty," was  organized  at  a  meeting  of  the  Illinois  Presby- 
tery, in  October,  1830.  Its  object  is  "to  educate  pious, 
indigent  young  men  for  the  gospel  ministry." 

Several  beneficiaries,  connected  with  the  Illinois  col- 
lege, are  under  its  charge. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination  are  forming- 
societies  to  build  up  and  sustain  the  Lebanon  Seminary. 

A  society  was  organized  in  February,  1833,  under  the 
came  of  the  "Illinois  Institute  of  Education."  The  object 
is  to  advance  education,  especially  in  common  or  prima- 
ry schools,  and  to  arouse  the  attention  of  the  people  to 
this  subject. 

Sunday  School  operations  are  carried  on  in  this  state 
to  a  considerable  extent  and  in  a  systematic  manner. 
The"  Illinois  Sunday  School  Union,"  is  composed  of  mem- 
bers of  three  religious  denominations.  About  375  Sim- 
day  schools,  including  2,000  teachers,  17,000  scholars, 
and  20,000  volumes  in  their  libraries,  exist  in  the  state, 

RELIGIOUS    DENOMINATIONS. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination  is  the  most  nu- 
merous. The  Illinois  conference,  which  embraces  the 
whole  state,(including  some  settlements  in  the  Wiscon- 
sin territory,)  has  five  districts,  fifty-six  circuit  preach- 
ers, about  twice  th,e  number  of  local  preachers,  and 
13,421  members  of  the  classes.  They  sustain  preach- 
ing in  every  county,  and  in  a  large  number  of  the  settle- 
ments. 

The  Baptist  denomination  includes   nineteen  associa- 


90  A    GAZETTEER 

tions,  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  associated,  and  five 
unassociated  churches,  one  hundred  and  forty-six  preach- 
ers, and  5,635  communicants.  Eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  persons  were  baptised  and  united  with  these  church- 
es in  1833.  It  is  generally  known  that  this  denomina- 
tion do  not  receive  into  their  churches  any  but  those 
who  profess  to  have  obtained  evidence  of  their  spiritual 
adoption  into  the  Redeemer's  family.  Their  preachers 
usually  follow  some  occupation  for  a  livelihood,  and 
preach  on  Sabbaths  and  such  other  occasions  only  as 
their  circumstances  admit. 

The  Presbyterian  denomination  will  stand  next  in  point 
of  numbers.  They  have  one  synod,  five  presbyteries, 
fifty  churches,  and  thirty-four  preachers.  The  presby- 
teries are  located  as  follows : 

1.  Illinois  Presbytery  includes  the  counties  of  Morgan, 
Green,  and  Macoupin,  and  has  ten  preachers,  and  nine 
churches. 

2.  Sangamon  Presbytery    comprises    all    the   country 
above  Morgan  and  east  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  west  of 
the  Kaskaskia  river,  and  has  five  preachers,  and  eight 
churches. 

3.  Kaskaskia  Presbytery  takes  in  all  the  state  south  of 
the  northern  boundary  of  Madison,  Bond,  and  Fayette 
counties,  except  Edwards  and  Wabash  counties,  and 
has  nine  preachers,  and  nineteen  churches. 

4.  Palestine  Presbytery,  (a  new  one)  embraces  all  the 
eastern   side  of  the  state,  and  north  of  White  county, 
and  has  four  preachers,  and  nine  churches. 

5.  Schuylcr  Presbytery,  (a  new  one)  includes  all  the 
country  between  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers,  and 


OF    ILLINOIS.  91 

to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  state.  It  has  six  preach- 
ers, and  five  churches.  I  have  not  the  means  of  know- 
ing the  exact  number  of  the  communicants  in  the  Pres- 
byterian connection.  Their  increase  has  been  consi- 
derable the  last  year,  and  they  number  probably  more 
than  1,500. 

There  are  three  or  four  Congregational  churches  orga- 
nized in  Illinois. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterians  would  come  next  by 
numbers,  but  I  am  not  able  to  give  their  exact  number. 
They  have  two  or  three  presbyteries,  twelve  or  fifteen 
preachers,  and  several  hundred  communicants. 

The  Methodist  Protestant  denomination  is  increasing  in 
Illinois.  There  are  three  circuit  and  several  local 
preachers  in  the  state. 

The  Cambellites,  or  "Reformers,"  as  they  usually  term 
themselves,  have  several  large,  and  a  number  of  smaller 
societies.  They  have  several  traveling,  and  a  number 
of  stationary  preachers,  and  probably  several  hundred 
members  including  the  Christian  body  with  which  they 
are  in  union.  They  immerse  all  who  profess  to  believe 
in  Christ  for  the  remission  of  sins,  but  differ  widely 
in  doctrinal  principles  from  the  orthodox  Baptists. 

There  are  several  societies  of  Seceders,  and  also  of 
Covenanters  in  Randolph,  Perry,  and  Jefferson  counties. 

In  McLean  county  is  a  society  of  United  Brethren  or 
as  some  call  them,  Dutch  Methodists. 

The  Dunkards  have  five  or  six  societies  and  some 
preachers  in  the  state. 

There  are  two  or  three  Lutheran  congregations,  with 
preachers. 


A   GAZETTEER 

There  is  also  a  small  society  of  J\Iormons  in  Greeri 
county.  There  are  small  societies  of  Friends  or  Qua* 
kers  in  Tazewell  and  in  Crawford  counties. 

The  Roman  Catholics  are  not  numerous.  Small  con- 
gregations exist  about  the  old  French  villages,  and  in 
some  other  parts  of  the  state. 

There  is  considerable  expression  of  good  feeling 
amongst  the  different  religious  denominations,  and  the 
members  frequently  hear  the  preachers  of  each  other, 
as  there  are  but  few  congregations  that  are  supplied 
every  Sabbath.  The  qualifications  of  the  clergymen 
are  various.  A  number  of  them  are  men  of  talents, 
learning,  influence,  and  unblemished  piety.  Others  have 
had  but  few  advantages  in  acquiring  either  literary  or 
theological  information,  and  yet  are  good  speakers  and 
useful  men. 

Some  are  very  illiterate,  and  make  utter  confusion  of 
the  word  of  God.  Such  persons  are  usually  proud,  con- 
ceited, fanatical,  and  influenced  by  a  spirit  far  removed 
from  the  meek,  docile,  benevolent,  and  charitable  spirit 
of  the  gospel. 

In  general  there  are  as  many  professors  of  religion, 
of  some  description,  in  proportion  to  population,  as  in 
most  of  the  states.  The  number  will  not  vary  far  from 
35,000,  or  the  proportion  of  one  to  eight. 

PUBLIC    LANDS. 

In  all  the  new  states  and  territories,  the  lands  which 
are  owned  by  the  general  government,  are  surveyed  and 
sold  under  one  general  system.  In  the  surveys,  "men- 
dian"  lines  are  first  established,  running  north  from  the 


OF    ILLINOIS.  93 

mouth  of  some  noted  river.    These  are  intersected  with 
"base"  lines. 

There  are  five  principal  meridians  in  the  land  surveys 
in  the  west. 

The  "First  Principal  Meridian"  is  a  line  due  north 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Miami. 

The  "Second  Principal  Meridian"  is  a  line  due  north 
from  the  mouth  of  Little  Blue  river,  in  Indiana. 

The  "Third  Principal  Meridian"  is  a  line  due  north 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio. 

The  "Fourth  Principal  Meridian"  is  a  line  due  north 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois. 

The  "Fi/lh  Principal  Meridian"  is  a  line  due  north 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas.  Each  of  these  meri- 
dians has  its  own  base  line. 

The  surveys  connected  with  the  third  and  fourth  me 
ridians,  and  a  small  portion  of  the  second,  embrace  the 
state  of  Illinois. 

The  base  line  for  both  the  second  and  third  principal 
meridians  commences  at  Diamond  Island,  in  the  Ohio, 
opposite  Indiana,  and  runs  due  west  till  it  strikes  the 
Mississippi,  a  fetf  miles  below  St.  Louis. 

All  the  townships  in  Illinois,  south  and  east  of  the  Illi- 
nois river  are  numbered  from  this  base  line  either  north 
or  south. 

The  third  principal  meridian  terminates  with'the 
northern  boundary  of  the  state. 

The  fourth  principal  meridian  commences  in  the  cen- 
tre of  the  channel,  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river, 
but  immediately  crosses  to  the  east  shore,  and  passes  up 
on  that  side,  (and  at  one  place  nearly  fourteen  miles 


94  A   GAZETTEER 

distant,)  to  a  point  in  the  channel  of  the  river,  seventy- 
two  miles  from  its  mouth.  Here  its  base  line  com- 
mences and  extends  across  the  peninsula  to  the  Missis- 
sippi, a  short  distance  above  Q,uincy.  The  fourth  prin- 
cipal meridian  is  continued  northward  through  the  mili- 
tary tract,  and  across  Rock  river,  to  a  curve  in  the 
Mississippi  at  the  upper  rapids,  in  township  eighteen 
north,'^and  about  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  above  Rock 
Island.  It  here  crosses  and  passes  up  the  west  side  of 
the  Mississippi  river  fifty-three  miles,  and  recrosses 
mto  Illinois,  and  passes  through  the  town  of  Galena  to 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  state.  It  is  thence  con- 
tinued to  the  Wisconsin  river  and  made  the  principal 
meridian  for  the  surveys  of  the  territory,  while  the 
northern  boundary  line  of  the  state  is  constituted  its 
base  line  for  that  region. 

Having  formed  a  principal  meridian  with  its  corres- 
ponding base  line,  for  a  district  of  country,  the  next 
operation  of  the  surveyor  is  to  divide  this  into  tracts  of 
six  miles  square,  called  "townships." 

In  numbering  the  townships  east  or  west  from  a  prin- 
cipal meridian,  they  are  called  "ranges"  meaning  a 
range  of  townships;  but  in  numbering  north  or  south 
from  a  base  line,  they  are  called  "townships."  Thus  a 
tract  of  land  is  said  to  be  situated  in  township  four  north, 
in  range  three  east,  from  the  third  principal  meridian; 
or  as  the  case  maybe. 

Townships  are  subdivided  into  square  miles,  or  tracts 
of  640  acres  each,  called  "sections."  If  near  timber,  trees 
are  marked  and  numbered  with  the  section,  township, 
and  range,  near  each  sectional  corner.  If  in  a  large 


OF   ILLINOIS.  95 

prairie,  a  mound  is  raised  to  designate  the  corner,  and  a 
billet  of  charred  wood  buried,  if  no  rock  is  near.  Sec- 
tions are  divided  into  halves  by  a  line  north  and  south, 
and  into  quarters  by  a  transverse  line.  In  sales,  under 
certain  conditions,  quarters  are  sold  in  equal  subdivi- 
sions of  forty  acres  each,  at  one  dollar  and  twenty-five 
cents  per  acre.  Any  person,  whether  a  native  born  ci- 
tizen, or  a  foreigner,  may  puschase  forty  acres  of  the 
richest  soil,  and  receive  an  indisputable  title,  for  fifty 
dollars. 

Ranges  are  townships  counted  either  east  or  west  from 
meridians. 

Townships  are  counted  either  north  or  south  from  their 
respective  base  lines. 

Fractions,  are  parts  of  quarter  sections  intersected 
by  streams  or  confirmed  claims. 

The  parts  of  townships,  sections,  quarters,  etc.  made 
at  the  lines  of  either  townships  or  meridians  are>called 
excesses  or  deficiencies. 

Sections,  or  miles  square  are  numbered,  beginning  ID 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  township,  progressively  west 
to  the  range  line,  and  then  progressively  east  to  the 
range  line,  alternately,  terminating  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  township,  from,  one  to  thirty-six,  as  in  the 
following  diagram: 


A    GAZETTEER 


6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

18 

17 

16* 

15 

14 

13 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

30 

29 

28 

27 

26 

25 

32 

33 

34 

35 

36 

I  have  been  thus  particular  in  this  account  of  the 
surveys  of  public  lands,  to  exhibit  the  simplicity  of  a 
system,  that  to  strangers, unacquainted  with  the  method 
of  numbering  the  sections,  and  the  various  subdivisions, 
appears  perplexing  and  confused. 

A  large  tract  of  country  in  the  north,  and  north  east- 
ern portion  of  this  state  is  yet  unsurveyed.  This  does 
not  prevent  the  hardy  pioneers  of  the  west  from  taking 
possession,  where  the  Indian  title  is  extinct,  as  it  is 


Appropriated  for  schools  in  the  township. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  97 

now  to  all  lands  within  this  state.     They  risk  the  chance 
of  purchasing  it  when  brought  into  market. 

Land  Offices  and  Districts.  There,  are  eight  land  of- 
fices in  Illinois,  in  as  many  districts,  open  for  the  sale  or 
entry  of  public  lands. 

The  Land  District  of  Shawneetown,  embraces  that  por- 
tion of  the  state,  bounded  north  by  the  base  line,  east 
and  south  by  the  boundaries  of  the  state,  and  west  by 
the  third  principal  meridian. 

Office  for  the  entry  and  sale  of  lands  at  Shawneetown. 

The  Land  District  of  Kaskaskia,  is  bounded  north  by 
the  base  line,  and  comprehends  all  that  part  of  the  state 
that  lies  between  the  third  principal  meridian  and  the 
Mississippi. 

Land  office  at  Kaskaskia. 

The  Land  District  of  Edwardsville,  extends  south  to 
the  base  line,  east  to  the  third  principal  meridian,  north 
to  the  line  that  separates  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth 
townships  north,  and  west  to  the  Mississippi. 

Land  office  at  Edwardsville. 

The  Land  District  of  Vandalia,  extends  south  to  the 
base  line,  east  to  the  line  between  ranges  eight  and 
nine,  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian,  north  to  the 
south  line  of  Springfield  district,  and  west  to  the  third 
principal  meridian* 

Land  office  at  Vandalia. 

The  Land  District  of  Palestine,  extends  south  to  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  Shawneetown  district,  west 
to  the  eastern  boundary  of  Vandalia  district,  north  to 
the  dividing  line  between  townships  sixteen  and  seven- 
teen north,  and  east  to  the  boundary  of  Indiana. 
7 


93  A    GAZETTEER 

The  Land  District  of  Springfield,  extends  south  to  Ed- 
wardsville  district,  east  to  the  Palestine  and  Danville 
districts,  and  north  and  west  to  the  Illinois  river. 

The  Land  District  of  Quincy,  embraces  all  the  tract 
of  country  between  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers, 
and  west  of  the  third  principal  meridian. 

The  Land  District  of  Danville  includes  that  part  of  the 
state  to  its  northern  boundary,  which  lies  north  of  Pa- 
lestine, and  east  of  Springfield  districts. 

The  officers  in  each  land  district  are  a  register  and 
receiver,  appointed  by  the  president  and  senate,  and 
paid  by  the  general  government. 

The  land,  by  proclamation  of  the  president,  is  first 
offered  for  sale  at  auction,  by  half  quarter  sections.  li 
no  one  bids  for  it  at  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents 
per  acre  or  upwards,  it  is  subject  to  private  entry  at 
any  time  after,  upon  payment  at  the  time  of  entry.  No 
credit  is  allowed. 

In  special  cases  congress  has  granted  pre-emption 
rights,  where  settlements  and  improvements  have  been 
made  on  public  lands  previous  to  the  public  sale. 

Pre-emption  Rights  confer  the  privilege  only  of  pur- 
chasing the  tract  containing  improvements  at  one  dollar 
and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre,  by  the  possessor,  without 
the  risk  of  a  public  sale. 

All  lands  in  this  state,  purchased  of  the  general  go- 
vernment, are  exempted  from  taxation  for  five  years 
after  purchase. 

All  lands  owned  by  private  citizens  or  corporate  bo- 
dies, and  not  exempted  as  above,  are  divided  by  law  into 
two  classes  for  taxation,  called  ( [first  and  second  rates. .'' 


OF    ILLINOIS. 

First  rate  lands  are  taxed  three  dollars  and  twenty 
cents  per  quarter  section  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  per  annum.  Second  rate  lands  are  taxed  two 
dollars  and  forty  cents  per  quarter  section.  Resident 
and  non  resident  land  holders  are  taxed  equally. 

Residents  owning  lands  in  the  different  counties  may 
list  the  same  and  pay  taxes  in  the  counties  where  they 
reside,  or  in  the  auditor's  office,  at  their  option. 

Non  residents  must  list  their  lands  in  the  auditors 
office. 

Taxes  of  non  residents  are  required  to  be  paid  into 
the  state  treasury,  annually,  on  or  before  the  first  o;' 
September.  If  not  paid  at  that  time,  a  delinquent  list 
of  all  lands  owned  by  non  residents,  on  which  taxes  have 
not  been  paid,  is  sent  to  the  clerk  of  the  county  com- 
missioners' court  of  the  county  where  the  land  lies,  and 
a  transcript  of  this  list  is  to  be  published  in  some  news- 
paper, printed  within  the -state,  at  least  sixty  days  pre- 
vious to  sale. 

If  the  taxes  are  not  paid  to  the  clerk  of  the  county 
by  the  first  Monday  in  March,  so  much  of  the  land,  as  is 
necessary  to  pay  taxes  and  costs,  is  sold  at  the  seat  of 
justice  of  the  county. 

Lands  sold  for  taxes  may  be  redeemed  within  two 
years  from  the  time  of  sale,  by  paying  to  the  clerk  of 
the  county  for  the  use  of  the  purchaser,  double  the 
amount  of  taxes,  interest,  and  costs  for  which  the  same 
may  have  been  sold. 

Lands  belonging  to  minor  heirs  may  be  redeemed  at 
any  time  before  the  expiration  of  one  year  from  the 
time  the  youngest  of  said  heirs  shall  become  of  law- 
ful age. 


100  A    GAZETTEER 

Military  Bounty  Lands.  The  lands  which  constitute 
the  Illinois  military  tract,  given  as  a  bounty  to  the  sol- 
diers in  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  are  included 
within  the  peninsula  of  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi 
rivers,  and  extend  on  the  fourth  principal  meridian, 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
miles  north.  This  tract  embraces  the  counties  of  Cal- 
hoim,  Pike,  Adams,  Schuyler,  McDonough,  Warren. 
Mercer,  Knox,  Henry,  Fulton,  Peoria,  and  a  portion  of 
Putnam. 

For  a  particular  description,  reference  may  be  had  to 
each  of  these  counties  in  part  second. 

In  general  terms  however,  this  tract  contains  as  much 
good  land,  both  timber  and  prairie,  as  any  portion  of 
the  state  of  equal  extent.  About  three  fifths  of  the 
quarter  sections  have  been  appropriated  as  military 
bounties.  The  remainder  is  to  be  disposed  of  in  the 
same1  manner  as  other  public  lands.  South  of  the  base 
line,  which,  passes  across  the  tract  through  Schuyler 
and  Adams  counties,  the  public  lands  have  been  offered 
for  sale.  North  of  that  line  there  is  much  excellent 
(and  yet  for  sale. 

The  disposition  of  so  much  of  this  fine  country  for 
military  purposes  has  very  much  retarded  its  settlement. 
Most  of  the  titles  have  long  since  departed  from  the 
soldiers  for  whose  benefit  the  donations  were  made. 
Many  thousand  quarter  sections  have  been  sold  by  the 
state  for  taxes,  and  are  past  redemption.  Much  of  it 
is  in  the  hands  of  non  residents,  who  hold  it  at  prices 
too  exhorbitant  to  command  sale.  Some  offer  quit  claim 
deeds  for  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre,  but 


OF    ILLINOIS.  101 

many  thousand  acres  may  be  purchased  at  fifty  cents  per 
acre,  the  purchaser  risking  the  security  of  his  title. 
Some  have  doubted  the  legality  of  these  sales  at  auc- 
tion for  taxes,  but  able  lawyers,  and  those  who  have  in- 
vestigated the  business,  have  expressed,  the  opinion, 
that  "tax  titles,"  are  valid.  Within  the  last  two  years 
the  military  tract  has  received  a  great  accession  to  its 
population. 

The  following  particulars  may  be  of  use  to  non  resi- 
dent landholders  : 

1.  If  persons  have  held  lands  in  the  military  tract,  or 
in  the  state,  and  have  not  attended  to  paying  the  taxes 
for  more  than  two  years,  the  land  is  sold  and  past  re- 
demption, unless  there  are  minor  heirs. 

2.  Every  non  resident  land  holder  should  employ  an 
agent  within  the  state  to  pay  his  taxes,  and  take  the 
oversight  of  his  property. 

3.  All  deeds,  conveyances,  mortgages,  or  title  papers 
whatsoever,  must  be  recorded  in  the  "recorder's  office," 
in  the  county  where  the  land  is  situated.     Deeds  and 
title  papers  are  not  in  force  until  filed  in  the  recorder's 
office. 

4.  The  words  "grant,  bargain,  and  sell,"  whatever  may 
be  the  specific  form  of  the  instrument  in  other  respects, 
convey  a  full  and  bona  fide  title,  to  warrant  and  defend, 
unless  express  provision  is  made  to  the  contrary  in  the 
instrument. 

[See  revised  laws  of  Illinois,  of  1833,  art.  "recorder," 
page  510.1 


A    GAZETTEER 
HISTORY. 

About  1670,  the  notion  prevailed  amongst  the  French 
that  visited  Canada,  that  a  western  passage  to  the  Paci- 
fic ocean  existed.  They  learned  from  the  Indians  that 
far  in  the  west  there  was  a  great  river;  but  of  its  course 
or  termination  they  could  learn  nothing.  They  sup- 
posed that  this  river  communicated  with  the  western 
ocean. 

To  investigate  this  question,  P.  Marquette,  a  Jesuit, 
and  Joliet,  were  appointed  by  M.  Talon,  the  intendant 
of  New  France.  Marquette  was  well  acquainted  with 
the  Canadas,  and  had  great  influence  with  the  Indian 
tribes.  They  conducted  an  expedition  through  the 
lakes,  up  Green  bay  and  Fox  river,  to  the  Portage, 
where  it  approaches  the  Wisconsin,  to  which  they  pass- 
ed, and  descended  that  river  to  the  Mississippi,  which 
they  reached  the  17th  of  June,  167.3.  These  were  the 
first  Europeans  that  ever  visited  the  "father  of  waters/' 
They  found  a  river  much  larger  and  deeper  than  it  had 
been  represented  by  the  Indians.  Their  regular  jour- 
nal was  lost  on  their  return  to  Canada,  but  from  the  ac- 
count afterwards  given  by  Joliet,  they  found  the  natives 
friendly,  and  that  a  tradition  existed  amongst  them  of 
the  residence  of  a  "Mon-e-to,"  or  spirit,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Missouri,  which  they  could  not  pass.  They  turn- 
ed their  course  up  the  Illinois,  and  were  highly  delight- 
ed with  the  placid  stream,  and  the  woodlands  and  prai- 
ries through  which  it  flowed.  They  were  hospitally  re- 
ceived and  kindly  treated  by  the  Illinois,  a  numerous 
nation  of  Indians  who  were  destitute  of  the  cruelty  of 


OF    ILLINOIS.  103 

savages.  The  word  "Illinois,"  or  "Illini,"  is  said  by 
Hennepin,  to  signify  a  "full  grown  man"  This  nation, 
appears  to  have  orignally  possessed  the  Illinois  country, 
and  also  a  portion  west  of  the  Mississippi.  The  nation 
was  made  up  of  seven  tribes: — the  Miamies,  Michiga- 
mies,  Mascotins,  Kaskaskias,  Kahokias,  Peorias,  and 
Tamarweds. 

Marquette  continued  amongst  these  Indians  with  a 
view  to  Christianize  them;  but  Joliet  returned  to  Ca- 
nada and  reported  the  discoveries  he  had  made. 

Several  years  elapsed  before  any  one  attempted  to 
follow  up  the  discoveries  of  Marquette  and  Joliet.  M. 
de  La  Salle,  a  native  of  Normandy,  but  who  had  resided 
many  years  in  Canada,  was  the  first  to  extend  these 
early  discoveries.  He  was  a  man  of  intelligence,  talents, 
enterprise,  and  perseverance.  After  obtaining  the 
sanction  of  the  king  of  France,  he  set  out  on  his  pro- 
jected expedition,  in  1678,  from  Frontenac,  with  Che- 
valier Fonti,  his  lieutenant,  and  father  Hennepin,  a  Je- 
suit missionary,  and  thirty  or  forty  men. 

He  spent  about  one  year  in  exploring  the  country 
bordering  on  the  lakes,  and  in  selecting  positions  for 
forts  and  trading  posts,  to  secure  the  Indian  trade  to 
the  French.  After  he  had  built  a  fort  at  Niagara,  and 
fitted  out  a  small  vessel,  he  sailed  through  the  lakes  to 
Green  -bay,  then  called  the  "Bay  of  Puants."  From 
thence  he  proceeded  with  his  men  in  canoes  toward*  the 
south  end  of  lake  Michigan,  and  arrived  at  the  mouth  of 
the  "river  of  the  Miamis"  in  November,  1679.  This  is 
thought  to  be  Chicago.  Here  he  built  a  fort,  left  eight 
or  ten  men,  and  passed  with  the  rest  of  his  company 


104  A  GAZETTEER 

across  the  country  to  the  waters  of  the  Illinois  river, 
and  descended  that  river  a  considerable  distance,  when 
he  was  stopped  for  want  of  supplies.  This  was  occa- 
sioned by  the  loss  of  a  boat  which  had  been  sent  from 
his  post  on  Green  bay.  He  was  now  compelled  by  ne- 
cessity to  build  a  fort,  which,  on  account  of  the  anxiety 
of  mind  he  experienced,  was  called  Creve-cceur,  or  bro- 
ken heart. 

The  position  of  this  fort  cannot  now  be  ascertained, 
but  from  some  appearances,  it  is  thought  to  have  been 
near  Spring  bay,  in  the  north  east  part  of  Tazewell 
county. 

At  this  period  the  Illinois  were  engaged  in  a  war  with 
the  Iroquois,  a  numerous,  warlike,  and  cruel  nation, 
with  whom  La  Salle  had  traded,  while  on  the  borders 
of  Canada.  The  former,  according  to  Indian  notions 
of  friendship,  expected  assistance  from  the  French; 
but  the  interests  and  safety  of  La  Salle  depended  upon 
terminating  this  warfare,  and  to  this  object  he  directed 
his  strenuous  efforts.  The  suspicious  Illinois  construed 
this  into  treachery,  which  was  strengthened  by  the  ma- 
licious and  perfidious  conduct  of  some  of  his  own  men, 
and  pronounced  upon  him  the  sentence  of  death.  Im- 
mediately he  formed  and  executed  the  bold  and  hazard- 
ous project  of  going  alone  and  unarmed  to  the  camp  of 
the  Illinois,  and  vindicating  his  conduct.  He  declared 
his  innocence  of  the  charges,  and  demanded  the  author. 
He  urged  that  the  war  should  be  terminated,  and  that 
the  hostile  nations  should  live  in  peace. 

The  coolness,  bravery,  and  eloquence  of  La  Salle  filled 
the  Indians  with  astonishment,  and  entirely  changed 


OF    ILLINOIS.  105 

their  purposes.  The  calmut  was  smoked,  presents  mu- 
tually exchanged,  and  a  treaty  of  amity  concluded. 

The  original  project  of  discovery  was  now  pursued. 
Father  Hennepin  started  on  the  23th  of  February,  1680, 
and  having  passed  down  the  Illinois,  ascended  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony.  Here  he  was  taken 
prisoner,  robbed,  and  carried  to  the  Indian  villages, 
from  which  he  made  his  escape,  returned  to  Canada  by 
the  way  of  the  Wisconsin,  and  from  thence  to  France, 
where  he  published  an  account  of  his  travels. 

La  Salle  visited  Canada  to  obtain  supplies,  returned 
to  Creve-co3ur,  and  shortly  after  descended  the  Illinois, 
and  then  the  Mississippi,  where  he  built  one  or  two  forts 
on  its  banks,  and  took  possession  of  the  country  in  the 
name  of  the  king  of  France,  and  in  honor  of  him  called 
it  Louisiana. 

One  of  these  forts  is  thought  to  have  been  built  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river,  between  St.  Louis  and  Carondalet. 

After  descending  the  Mississippi  to  its  mouth,  he  re- 
turned to  the  Illinois,  and  on  his  way  back  left  some  of 
his  companions  to  occupy  the  country.  This  is  supposed* 
to  have  been  the  commencement  of  the  villages  of  Kas- 
kaskia  and  Cahokia,  in  1633.  La  Salle  went  to  France, 
fitted  out  an  expedition  to  form  a  colony  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi,  sailed  to  the  gulph  of  Mexico,  but  not 
being  able  to  find  the  mouths  of  that  river,  he  commenced 
an  overland  journey  to  his  fort  on  the  Illinois.  On  this 
journey  he  was  basely  assassinated  by  two  of  his  own 
men.* 

*  La  Salle  appears  to  have  discovered  the  Bay  of  St. 


106  A    GAZETTEER 

After  the  death  of  La  Salle,  no  attempts  to  discover 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  were  made  till  about  1699; 
but  the  settlements  in  the  Illinois  country  were  gra- 
dually increased  by  emigrants  from  Canada. 

In  1712,  the  king  of  France,  by  letters  patent,  gave 
the  whole  country  of  Louisiana  to  JM.  Crosat,  with  the 
commerceofthe  country,  with  the  profits  of  all  the  mines, 
reserving  for  his  own  use  one  fifth  of  the  gold  and  silver. 
After  expending  large  sums  in  digging  and  exploring  for 
the  precious  metals  without  success,  Crosat  gave  up  his 
privilege  to  the  king,  in  1717.  Soon  after,  the  colony 
was  granted  to  the  Mississippi  company,  projected  by 
Mr.  Law,  which  took  possession  of  Louisiana,  and  ap- 
pointed M.  Bienville  governor.  In  1719,  La  Harp  com- 
manded a  fort  with  French  troops  not  far  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Missouri  river. 

Shortly  after,  several  forts  were  built  within  the  pre- 
sent limits  of  Illinois,  of  which  fort  Chartres  was  the 
most  considerable.  By  these  means  a  chain  of  commu- 
nication was  formed  from  Canada  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi. 

The  oldest  record  or  document  in  the  state  is  at  Kas- 
kaskia,  dated  1725.  It  is  a  petition  to  Louis  XV.  king 
of  France,  asking  a  grant  of  common  fields,  commons, 
etc.;  stating  their  great  sufferings  the  preceding  year, 
[1724]  from  the  great  flood  which  swept  away  all  their 

Bernard,  and  formed  a  settlement  on  the  western  side 
of  the  Colarado,  in  1635. 

See  J,  Q.  Adamses  Correspondence  with  Don  Onis.  Pub. 
Doc.  firsf  session  15th  Congress,  1S18. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  107 

improvements,  and  obliged  the  people  to  flee  to  the  bluffs 
opposite  the  village,  and  across  the  Kaskaskia  river. 

At  the  termination  of  hostilities  between  the  French 
and  English,  in  1763,  the  Illinois  country,  with  Canada- 
was  ceded  to  the  British  government,  and  in  1765,  capt.. 
Sterling,  of  the  royal  Highlanders,  took  possession  of  Il- 
linois. He  was  succeeded  by  major  Farmer,  who  was 
relieved  by  col.  Reed,  in  1766.  The  principal  military 
post  and  seat  of  government  during  these  changes,  was 
at  fort  Chartres.  The  administration  of  col.  Reed  was 
extremely  unpopular  with  the  inhabitants,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  a  course  of  military  oppression.  1763  he  was 
succeeded  by  lieut.  col.  Wilkins,  who  established  a 
court  of  justice  amongst  the  people,  and  appointed  seven 
judges  to  settle  all  matters  relating  to  debts  and  pro- 
perty. 

They  met  for  the  first  time  at  fort  Chartres  in  De- 
cember following,  and  continued  to  meet  for  business 
monthly.  Still  the  people  were  dissatisfied,  and  de- 
manded the  right  of  trial  by  jury,  which  was  denied 
them. 

Affairs  continued  in  this  posture  till  the  revolutionary 
war,  when  the  Virginia  militia,  under  command  of  gen. 
George  Rodgers  Clarke,  made  an  excursion  through  the 
Indian  country,  subjugated  fort  Chartres,  Kaskaskia. 
and  other  posts  on  the  Mississippi,  and  then  conducted 
a  successful  expedition  against  Port  Vincent,  now  Vin- 
cennes.  This  was  in  1778. 

The  same  year  the  legislature  of  Virginia  organized  a 
county  in  this  remote  region,  called  "Illinois"  and  ap- 
pointed a  magistrate  over  it  with  extensive  powers 


103  A    GAZETTEER 

styled  lieutenant  governor.     Timothy  Demonbrun  was 
appointed  to  this  office. 

This  territory  was  afterwards  ceded  by  Virginia  to 
the  United  States,  and  formed  a  portion  of  the  North 
western  territory,  by  whose  authority  the  county  of  Il- 
linois was  divided,  and  the  names  of  St.  Clair  and  Ran- 
dolph given.  In  1800,  it  was  included  within  the  limits 
of  Indiana  territory,  and  at  that  time  the  country  that 
forms  the  present  state  of  Illinois  contained  about  3,000 
inhabitants. 

Many  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  that  accompanied 
general  Clarke  in  his  expedition,  became  enamored  with 
the  country,  returned  with  their  families  and  formed  the 
early  American  settlements.  Other  persons  settled  in 
Kaskaskia  about  the  same  time,  to  engage  in  the  In- 
dian trade. 

In  1786,  the  Kickapoo,  and  other  bands  of  Indians, 
commenced  their  predatory  warfare,  which  greatly  har- 
rassed  the  American  settlers  for  the  succeeding  ten 
years. 

After  1800, the  population  increased  considerably  from 
emigration.  In  1809,  a  territorial  government  was  form- 
ed, and  the  population  the  next  year  amounted  to  12,232. 

During  the  last  war  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States,  Illinois,  in  common  with  other  frontier 
districts,  felt  the  calamities  of  warfare.  The  defence 
of  the  long  line  of  frontier  from  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
souri, across  the  territory  to  Shawncetown,  depended 
upon  the  energy  and  vigilance  of  the  citizens,  under  the 
able  and  indefatigable  governor,  the  late  Ninian  Ed- 
wards. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  109 

In  1812,  the  territory,  which  had  been  under  the  go- 
vernment of  the  governor  and  judges,  entered  upon  the 
second  grade  of  territorial  government,  with  a  legisla- 
ture, and  a  delegate  in  congress. 

In  1818,  the  constitution  was  framed  and  Illinois  was 
received  into  the  Union  as  the  twenty-second  state. 

MISCELLANEOUS  REMARKS. 

1.  This  state  presents  many  inducements  to  those  who 
are  emigrating  to  the  west.     It  is  now  receiving  large 
accessions  from  the  north,  the  south,  and  from  Europe. 
Many  Germans  have  already  entered  it,  and  many  more 
are  shortly  expected.     An  English  colony  was  formed 
at  Albion,  in  Edwards  county,  by  Messrs.  Birbeck  and 
Flowers,  in  1818. 

Morgan  county  contains  many  English  families,  who 
came  three  or  four  years,  since.  In  general  they  have 
purchased  lands,  and  are  doing  well. 

Emigrants  from  New  England,  New  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  Ohio,  pour  into  the  middle  and  northern 
counties. 

From  the  southern  states  there  are  hundreds  visiting 
Illinois  monthly,  to  find  convenient  residences,  and  a 
retreat  from  the  inconveniences  of  slaveholding. 

2.  Farms,  partially  cultivated  may  be  purchased,  at 
a  reasonable  price,  in  almost  every  county.     The  prices 
vary  from  local  situation,  or  factitious   circumstances. 
From  two  to  ten  dollars  per  acre,  including  improve- 
ments, is  the  common  range  of  prices. 


UO  A    GAZETTEER 

3.  In  no  part  of  the  United  States  can  uncultivated 
land  be  rnade  into  farms  with  less  labor  than  in  Illinois, 
An  emigrant  may  purchase  a  quarter  section  for  $200, 
a  proportionate  supply  of  timbered  and  prairie   land, 
and  have  a  large  farm  under  cultivation  in  a  short  time. 
His  cattle,  horses,  and  hogs  will  run  upon   the  range 
around  him,  and  find  feed  nine  months  in  the  year,  and 
a  small  amount  of  labor  will  provide  a  supply  of  winter 
food.     Hundreds  of  families,  who  have  not  the  means  to 
purchase,  settle  on  public  lands,  make  their  farms  and 
live  unmolested.     Any  laboring  man,  with  reasonable 
industry  and  economy,  with  a  family,  may  arrive  here 
without  any  capital,  and  in  a  half  a  dozen  years  be  the 
owner  of  a  good  farm,  with  stock  in  abundance.     The 
prairies  and  woodland  would  furnish  range  until  his 
farm  was  made. 

Those  who  have  one  or  two  thousand  dollars  to  com- 
mence with,  have  peculiar  advantages. 

4.  Mechanics  of  every  description,  for  the  ordinary 
purposes  of  life,  find  abundant  encouragement. 

I  could  name  common  mechanics,  whom  I  knew  when 
apprentices,  and  who  commenced  business  without  a 
cent  of  capital,  but  who  now  own  property  valued  from 
ten  to  twenty  thousand  dollars.  They  have  gained  it 
by  steady,  persevering  industry.  And  yet,  no  one 
makes  money  rapidly,  and  grows  rich  suddenly.  The 
great  secret  of  the  accumulation  of  property  in  any 
part  of  the  "west,"  consists  in  the  gradual  rise  of  pro- 
perty,  by  the  advantageous  application  of  manual  labor.  As 
a  general  principle,  with  exceptions  to  particular  places. 


Of    ILLINOIS.  1  1  I 

this  rise  of  property  in  Illinois,  the  last  ten  years,  hay 
equalled  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  per  cent,  per  annum. 

The  following  prices  of  articles  and  of  labor  in  Illi- 
nois, is  the  average  of  various  parts: — Brick,  $4  per 
thousand; — laying  do.  and  finding  materials,  $8  do.  Pine 
boards,  seasoned  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Louis  and  Alton, 
from  $25  to  $30  per  thousand  feet; — flooring  boards  at 
the  sawmills,  li  inch  thick, $1  25  to  $  I  50  per  hundred; 
— weatherboards,  from  80  to  100  cents; — walnut  boards, 
for  ceiling  and  furniture,  $1  50; — linden  do.  $1  25; — 
roofing,  75  cents.  Nails,  from  8  to  10  cents  per  Ib. 
Glass,  $5  and  $6  per  hundred  square  feet. 

Common  tradesmen  usually  receive  $1  per  day  and 
board.  Framing  buildings,  from  $1  25  to  $1  75  per 
square.  Laying  floors,  rough,  per  square,  75  cents  to 
$1.  Do.  jointed,  $1  50.  Do.  jointed  and  grooved,  $o. 
Do.  jointed,  grooved,  and  planed,  $4  to  $4  50  per  square. 
Making  doors, 50  cents  per  pannel;  window  sash,  6  cents 
per  light.  Putting  on  three  coats  of  plaister,  where  ma- 
terials are  found,  including  hands  to  carry  mortar,  and 
board,  12i  cents  per  square  yard.  Oil  costs  by  the 
gallon  $1.  Common  laborers  on  a  farm  receive  about 
$10  per  month,  or  50  cents  per  day. 

5.  Good  school  teachers,  who  will  follow  the  employ- 
ment, are  much  needed.     The  usual  method  is  to  pay 
by  the  scholar  per  quarter.     Prices  for  ordinary  bran- 
ches in  the  country  settlements,  including  board,  $2  and 
$2  50  per  scholar.      Female  teachers,  for  schools,  are 
enquired  after. 

6.  The  people  of  the  west,  and  of  Illinois,  have  much 


112  A    GAZETTEER 

plain,  blunt,  but  sincere  hospitality.  Emigrants  who 
come  amongst  them  with  a  disposition  to  be  pleased 
with  the  people  and  country, — to  make  no  invidious  com- 
parisons,— to  assume  no  airs  of  distinction, — but  to  be- 
come amalgamated  with  the  people,  where,  of  course, 
erery  thing  is  different  to  what  they  have  been  accus- 
tomed, will  be  welcome. 


PART  SECOND. 

GENERAL  VIEW  OF  EACH  COUNTY  IN   THE 
STATE  OF  ILLINOIS, 

ARRANGED    IN    ALPHABETICAL    ORDER. 


ADAMS    COUNTY. 

Adams  County  was  organized  from  Pike  county,  in 
1825,  and  is  thirty  miles  long,  with  an  average  width 
of  twenty-eight  miles, — containing  about  820  square 
miles. 

It  is  bounded  north,  by  Hancock;  east,  by  Schuyler 
and  a  corner  of  Pike;  south,  by  Pike;  and  west,  by  the 
Mississippi  river. 

Its  streams  are  Bear  creek  and  branches,  Cedar,  Ty- 
rer,  Mill,  Fall,  and  Pigeon  creeks,  on  the  western;  and 
the  north  and  west  forks  of  McKee's  creek  on  its  east- 
ern border. 

For  quality  of  soil,  well  proportioned  into  timber  and 
prairie,  it  is  second  to  none  in  the  state.  Few  tracts  of 
country  are  equal,  and  none  superior  to  the  one  on  Bear 
creek. 

Its  productions  are  similar  to  other  counties  in  the 
military  district.  The  people  in  general  are  enterpri- 
8 


114  A    GAZETTEER 

sing  and  industrious  farmers.  The  population  is  about 
4,200.  Adams  county  is  attached  to  the  fifth  judicial 
circuit,  and  in  connection  with  Hancock  and  Pike3sends 
one  senator  and  two  representatives  to  the  legislature. 
The  seat  of  justice  is  Quincy. 

ALEXANDER    COUNTY. 

Alexander  County  lies  at  the  south  end  of  the  state, 
in  the  forks  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  which 
wash  its  western,  southern,  and  a  portion  of  its  eastern 
borders.  More  than  sixty  miles  of  its  western  side  are 
along  the  curves  and  windings  of  the  latter  river.  It  has 
a  fertile  soil,  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber, 
amongst  which  are  oaks  of  various  kinds,  especially 
white  oak,  cypress,  poplar,  walnut,  hickory,  some  cher- 
ry, elm,  etc.  and  a  tract  of  yellow  pine  in  the  north  wes- 
tern part.  A  reef  of  rocks  of  lime  stone,  intermixed  with 
sand  stone,  forming  the  grand  chain  of  the  Ohio,  six  miles 
above  America,  is  supposed  to  extend  across  this  coun- 
ty, (below  the  surface  of  the  earth,)  to  the  Mississippi 
river.  At  least  one  third  of  the  county  is  alluvion. 
On  Cash  river,  and  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  the  land 
is  inundated  in  times  of  Ligh  water.  Along  the  Missis- 
sippi is  an  extensive  tract  of  alluvial  land,  entirely 
above  high  water. 

The  streams  in  this  county  are  Cash  river  and  branch- 
es, Sexton's  creek,  and  Clear  creek.  Cash  river  enter= 
it  at  the  north  eastern  part,  passes  in  a  circuitous  course 
through  it,  and  enters  the  Ohio  six  miles  above  its  mouth, 
at  Trinity. 

Alexander  county  is  about  twenty-four  miles  longr 


OF    ILLINOIS.  115 

and  upon  an  average  width  of  eighteen  miles, — contain- 
ing about  375  square  miles. 

Alexander  county  is  attached  to  the  third  judicial 
circuit,  and  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  represen- 
tatives, and,  with  Union  county,  one  member  to  the  sen- 
ate. Population  about  1,680.  It  was  formed  from 
Union  county,  in  1819. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Unity. 

BOND    COUNTY. 

Bond  County  was  organized  from  Madison,  in  1817.  It 
then  embraced  an  extensive  district  of  country,  but 
has  since  been  reduced  to  an  area  of  twenty  miles  long, 
and  eighteen  miles  wide,  or  360  square  miles.  It  has 
Montgomery  on  the  north,  Fayette  east,  Clinton  south, 
and  Madison  on  the  west. 

Shoal  creek  and  its  branches  pass  through  the  mid- 
dle, and  Hurricane  fork  waters  the  eastern  portion  of 
this  county. 

It  is  duly  proportioned  into  timber  and  prairie.  In 
some  parts  the  latter  is  rather  too  level  for  convenience, 
but  is  good,  second  rate  land.  The  population  generally 
are  industrious,  frugal,  and  intelligent  farmers. 

Bond  county  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, and,  with  Montgomery  and  Macoupen,  one 
to  the  senate.  It  belongs  to  the  second  judicial  circuit* 
Population  about  3,930. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Greenville, 


H6  A  GAZETTEER 

CALHOUN  COUNTY. 

Calhoun  County  was  organized  from  Pike  county,  in 
1825.  It  is  a  long  and  narrow  strip  of  country  lying  in 
the  forks  of  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers.  It  is 
bounded  on  three  sides  by  those  rivers,  and  on  the  north- 
ern end,  by  Pike  county,  and  is  thirty-seven  and  a  half 
miles  long,  and  from  three  to  ten  miles  in  width  from 
one  river  to  the  other, — making  about  260  square  miles. 
The  mouth  of  Bay  creek  is  in  the  northern  part  of  this 
county,  which  affords  a  harbor  and  navigation  for  steam 
boats  seven  miles.  There  are  no  other  creeks  worth 
naming.  Several  fine  prairies  lie  at  the  foot  of  the  bluffs 
on  both  sides  of  the  county,  amongst  which  are  Illinois, 
Salt,  Belleview.  On  the  rivers  considerable  tracts  are 
subject  to  inundation,  and  in  the  interior  are  bluffs,  ra- 
vines and  sink  holes.  Still  there  are  considerable  tracts 
of  good  land  unoccupied, 

The  bottoms  furnish  excellent  range  for  stock.  Cat- 
tle, beef,  pork,  corn,  honey,  and  beeswax  are  its  exports. 

Formerly  honey  from  the  trees  was  obtained  in  pro- 
fuse quantities.  It  grows  more  scarce  as  the  popula- 
tion increases.  Calhoun  belongs  to  the  first  judicial 
circuit,  and  is  connected  with  Mercer,  McDonough,  and 
Warren,  in  electing  a  representative,  and  with  the  same 
counties,  with  the  addition  of  Schuyler,  Fulton,  Knox, 
and  Henry,  in  electing  a  senator.  Population  about 
1,300. 

Surrounded  by  rivers  and  low  bottoms,  Calhoun  coun- 
ty is  less  healthy  than  others  on  the  military  tract. 

Coal,  in  large  bodies,  is  found  on  the  Mississippi  in  the 
south  part  of  the  county.  The  seat  of  justice  is  Gilead- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  117 

CHAMPAIGN    COUNTY. 

Champaign  County  was  organized  from  the  attached 
part  of  Vermilion  county,  in  February,  1833.  It  is 
bounded,  on  the  north,  by  a  strip  of  country  not  belong, 
ing-  to  any  county;  on  the  east,  by  Vermilion;  on  the 
south,  by  Coles;  and  on  the  west,  by  Macon  and  McLean 
counties.  It  is  forty-eight  miles  square,  and  contains 
sixty-four  townships,  or  2,304  square  miles.  The 
streams.,  are  the  Salt  Fork  of  the  Vermilion  of  the  Wa- 
bash;  the  Vermilion  of  the  Illinois;  the  Kaskaskia;  and 
the  North  Fork  of  the  Sangamon; — all  of  which  take 
their  rise  in  this  county  and  run  in  opposite  directions. 
Here  are  extensive  prairies,  indented  with  beautiful 
groves  of  fine  timber,  of  which  Big  grove,  at  the  head  of 
Salt  Fork,  is  the  largest.  Around  these  groves  the  prai- 
ries are  undulating,  and  very  rich  soil. 

The  settlements  are  not  yet  extensive.  As  an  inte- 
rior county,  it  will  be  further  from  market  than 
those  situated  either  on  the  Wabash  or  Illinois,  but  is 
well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  stock,  and  will  be  un- 
doubtedly a  healthy  region. 

Champaign  county  belongs  to  the  fourth  judicial  cir- 
cuit, and,  with  Vermilion  county,  sends  one  senator  and 
two  representatives  to  the  legislature. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Urbanna. 


CLARK  COUNTY. 

Clark  County  was  formed   from  Crawford,  county,  in 
1819;  and  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Edgar;  on  the  east, 


118  A    GAZETTEER 

by  Indiana  and  the  Wabash  river;  south,  by  Crawford; 
and  west,  by  Coles. 

It  is  twenty-four  miles  long,  east  and  west;  and  twen- 
ty-one miles  broad, — containing  about  500 square  miles. 

Its  streams  are,  the  North  Fork  of  the  Embarras, 
which  crosses  the  north  western  part  of  the  county;  Mill 
creek,  and  Big  creek,  which  cross  its  north  eastern  part. 

Walnut,  Union,  Dolson,  and  Parker's  prairies  are 
found  in  this  county. 

At  York,  in  the  south  eastern  corner  of  the  county,  is 
a  steam  saw  and  flouring  mill. 

Its  exports  are  corn,  pork,  and  beef  cattle.  From 
45,000  to  60,000  bushels  of  corn  are  sent  out  annually. 

Clark  county  has  4,000  inhabitants,  sends  one  mem- 
ber to  the  house  of  representatives,  and,  with  Edgar, 
one  member  to  the  senate.  It  belongs  to  the  fourth 
judicial  circuit. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Darwin. 

CLAY    COUNTY. 

Clay  County  was  formed  from  portions  of  Wayne, 
Lawrence,  Crawford,  and  Fayette,  in  1824. 

It  is  bounded,  on  the  north,  by  Effingham  and  Jasper; 
east,  by  Lawrence;  south,  by  Wayne,  and  a  corner  of 
Edwards;  west,  by  Marion,  and  a  corner  of  Fayette. 

Its  medium  length  is  thirty  miles;  width,  twenty-one 
miles, — containing  about  620  square  miles. 

It  is  watered  by  the  Little  Wabash,  and  branches. 

Probably  two  thirds  of  the  surface  is  prairie  of  an  in- 
ferior quality.  The  streams  usually  overflow  their 
banks  in  freshets. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  119 

Glay  county  belongs  to  the  fourth  judicial  circuit,  and 
unites  with  Marion  in  sending  one  member  to  the  house 
of  representatives,  and  also  with  Fayette  in  sending  a 
member  to  the  senate. 

Population,  at  the  last  census,  751;  increase  since, 
probably  about  twenty  per  cent. 

Its  seat  of  justice  is  Maysmlle. 

CLINTON    COUNTY. 

Clinton  County  was  formed  from  Washington  and  a 
portion  of  Bond,  in  December,  1824. 

It  is  bounded  north,  by  Bond;  east,  by  Marion;  south, 
by  Washington;  and  west,  by  St.  Clair,  and  a  corner  of 
Madison. 

It  is  thirty  miles  long,  and  from  fifteen  to  eighteen, 
miles  wide, — containing  about  fourteen  townships,  or  500 
square  miles. 

It  is  watered  by  the  Kaskaskia  river,  which  passes 
through  it,  and  its  tributaries, — Crooked,  Shoal,  and 
Sugar  creeks;  and  is  about  equally  proportioned  into 
timber  and  prairie. 

Much  of  the  land  in  this  and  the  adjacent  counties  is 
not  equal  in  quality  to  that  further  north.  This  is  true 
especially  of  the  prairies.  The  soil  is  thinner,  the  sur- 
face is  less  undulating,  and  farmers  are  subjected  to 
greater  inconvenience  from  wet  seasons. 

The  timber,  where  it  abounds,  is  generally  of  a  good 
quality. 

Clinton  county  belongs  to  the  second  judicial  circuit. 


120  A    GAZETTEER 

and  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representatives, 
and,  with  Monroe,  one  to  the  senate. 

Population  about  3,000. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Carlyle. 

COLES    COUNTY. 

Coles  County  was  organized,  in  1330,  from  Clark  and 
Edgar  counties. 

It  lies  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  and  is  bounde  d 
north, .by  Champaign;  east,  by  Edgar  and  Clark;  south., 
by  Jasper,  and  a  corner  of  Effingham;  and  west,  by 
Shelby  and  Macon  counties.  It  i§  forty-eight  miles 
long,  from  north  to  south;  and  twenty  six-miles  wide  on 
a  medium.-; — containing  about  1,248  square  miles. 

The  Kaskaskia  river  passes  through  four  townships 
in  its  north  western  part;  the  Embarras  runs  its  whole 
length,  with  several  branches;  and  the  heads  of  the  Lit- 
tle Wabash  afford  fine  mill  streams,  and  settlements,  in 
its  south  western  portion. 

This  county  contains  much  excellent  land,  equal  in 
quality  to  the  country  on  the  Illinois  river. 

The  northern,  and  a  tract  through  the  middle  portions 
of  the  county  are  prairies  of  considerable  extent;  but 
the  other  parts  are  duly  proportioned  into  timber  and 
prairie. 

The  timber  is  similar  to  the  borders  of  the  Kaskaskia; 
and  much  of  the  prairie  land  is  moderately  undulating. 
The  south  eastern  part  is  rather  wet  or  broken. 

The  streams  are  not  large;  they  generally  run  over  a 
bed  of  sand,  and  afford  many  good  mill  seats. 

Most  of  the  settlements  are  of  recent  formation,  but 


H 

OF    ILLINOIS.  121 

its  agricultural  productions  soon  must  exceed  those  of 
any  other  county  near  the  Wabash,  and  will  find  their 
way  to  that  river  for  market. 

It  belongs  to  the  fourth  judicial  district,  and  sends 
one  member  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and,  with 
Clark  and  Edgar,  one  to  the  senate. 

In  1S30,  the  population  was  about  1,200; — now  it  is 
equal  to  4,000. 

Pork,  beef,  cattle,  and  horses,  will  be  the  staple  pro- 
ductions. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Charleston. 

COOK    COUNTY. 

Cook  County  was  organized  January  15th,  1831,  and  is 
bounded  north,  by  the  Wisconsin  territory;  east,  by 
lake  Michigan;  south,  by  Iroquois  county;  and  west,  by 
La  Salle. 

It  embraces  a  large  tract  of  country,  and  doubtless 
will  be  divided  next  legislature.  Exclusive  of  the  por- 
tion of  the  lake,  this  county  is  about  seventy  miles  long, 
and  forty  miles  wide. 

It  is  watered  by  the  Des  Plaines,  the  north  and  south 
branches  of  the  Chicago,  the  Du  Page,  Au  Sable,  Hic- 
kory creek,  a  portion  of  Fox  river,  and  some  smaller 
streams. 

Its  surface  is  tolerably  level,  of  a  rich  soil,  with  large 
prairies,  and  the  timber  in  groves.  There  is  a  fine  body 
of  timber  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kankakee;  and  another 
excellent  body  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Chicago,  and 
along  the  lake  shore. 

This  county,  and  those  adjacent,  differ  in  several  re- 


122  A    GAZETTEER 

spects  from  the  country  below.  The  small  streams  run 
perennially,  over  rocky  and  gravelly  beds,  through  the 
prairies.  The  timber  is  not  confined  to  the  banks  of  the 
streams,  but  exists  in  groves  and  strips,  often  on  the  di- 
viding ridges  between  the  water  courses.  The  summers 
are  comparatively  cooler,  and  the  winters  longer  and 
more  severe. 

Cook  county  is  rapidly  settling,  chiefly  by  emigrants 
from  the  northern  states;  and  will  be  both  a  stock  and 
grain  growing  region.  Its  market  will  be  through  the 
lakes  to  New  York  and  Canada. 

This  county  belongs  to  the  fifth  judicial  district,  and, 
with  Jo  Daviess,  Peoria,  Putnam,  and  La  Salle,  sends 
one  senator  and  one  representative  to  the  legislature. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Chicago. 

CRAWFORD    COUNTY. 

Crawford  County  was  formed,  in  1316,  and  lies  north 
of  Lawrence,  east  of  Jasper,  which,  for  judicial  pur- 
poses, is  attached  to  it;  south  of  Clark,  and  west  of  the 
Wabash  river,  that  separates  it  from  Indiana. 

It  is  twenty-one  miles  long*  and  eighteen  miles  broad, 
— containing  378  square  miles. 

Racoon,  Hudson,  Sugar,  and  La  Motte  creeks,  are 
small  streams,  that  rise  in  this  county,  and  run  east  into 
the  Wabash;  its  western  border  is  watered  by  branches 
of  the  Embarras. 

La  Motte  prairie  is  a  level  and  rich  tract,  admirably 
adapted  to  the  growth  of  corn.  Its  exports  are  similar 
to  other  counties  along  the  Wabash,  consisting  chiefly 
of  corn,  beef,  pork,  and  cattle. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  123 

Crawford  county  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of 
representatives,  and,  with  Lawrence,  one  to  the  senate. 
It  is  attached  to  the  fourth  judicial  district. 

A  settlement  of  Friends,  or  Quakers,  is  found  on  the 
western  side  of  the  county,  near  the  Embarras. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Palestine. 

EDGAR    COUNTY. 

Edgar  County  was  formed  from  Clark,  in  1823,  and  is 
bounded  north,  by  Vermilion;  east,  by  the  state  of  In- 
diana; south,  by  Clark;  and  west,  by  Coles  county. 

It  is  twenty-seven  miles  long,  from  north  to  south; 
and  twenty-four  miles  wide,  from  east  to  west, — con- 
taining eighteen  townships,  or  about  648  square  miles. 

Edgar  county  is, watered  by  Big,  Clear,  and  Bru- 
lette's  creeks,  which  are  small  streams,  and  enter  the 
Wabash.  Little  Embarras  heads  in  the  western  and 
south  western  part  of  this  county,  and  runs  south  west 
into  Coles. 

The  south  and  east  sides  of  this  county  are  well  tim- 
bered with  all  the  varieties  found  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  state,  including  poplar. 

The  soil  in  general  is  rich,  adapted  to  the  various  pro- 
ductions of  this  state.  Pork  and  beef, —  especially  the 
former, — are  its  chief  exports,  which  find  a  ready  mar- 
ket at  Terre  Haute  and  Clinton,  Indiana. 

At  the  census,  in  1830,  it  had  three  water  grist  mills, 
three  water  saw  mills, three  inclined  plane  ox  mills, six 
draught  mills,  three  steam  and  three  copper  distilleries, 
four  tanneries,  three  spinning  machines,  one  carding 
machine,  one  pottery,  twelve  schools,  eight  stores,  three 


'  A    GAZETTEER 

physicians,  one  lawyer,  and  a  proportionate  number  of 
mechanics. 

It  belongs  to  the  fourth  judicial  circuit,  and  sends  one 
member  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and,  with  Clark 
and  Coles,  one  to  the  senate. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Paris. 

EDWARDS  COUNTY. 

Edwards  County  was  organized  from  Gallatin,  in  1814. 
It  lies  on  the  Little  Wabash  river,  and  has  Lawrence 
county  on  the  noYth;  Wabash  county'  east;  White  coun- 
ty south;  and  Wayne  county  west. 

It  is  twenty-two  miles  long,  from  north  to  south;  and 
an  average  width  of  seventeen  miles, — containing  about 
370  square  miles,  proportionably  divided  into  timber  and 
prairie. 

The  prairies  are  small,  high,  undulating,  and  bound- 
ed by  heavy  timber.  The  English  settlement  formed 
by  Messrs.  Birbeck  and  Flowers  is  in  this  county. 

Edwards  county  is  watered  by  the  Little  Wabash 
river,  which  runs  along  its  western  border;  and  the 
Bon  Pas,  which  forms  its  eastern  boundary,  and  their 
branches. 

Its  prairies  are  Boltenhouse,  Burnt,  Long,  Bon  Pas, 
Village,  Bush,  and  Mills,  in  all  of  which  are  flourishing 
settlements.  A  settlement  of  about  60  families  is  in 
the  timbered  country,  in  the  south  end  of  this  county. 

Edwards  county  is  attached  to  the  fourth  judicial  cir- 
cuit; sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representatives, 
and,  with  Wabash  and  Wayne,  one  member  to  the  se- 
nate. The  seat  of  justice  is  Albion. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  1:25 

EFFINGHAM    COUNTY. 

EJfingham  County  was  laid  off  by  the  legislature  from 
Fayette  county,  in  1831,  but  did  not  become  organized 
by  the  election  of  officers  and  the  possession  of  countjr 
privileges  till  the  commencement  of  1833. 

It  is  bounded  north,  by  Shelby,  and  a  corner  of  Coles; 
east,  by  Jasper;  south,  by  Clay ,  and  a  corner  of  Fayette; 
and  west,  by  Fayette.  It  is  twenty-four  miles  long,  and 
about  twenty-one  broad, — containing  486.  square  miles. 
It  is  watered  by  the  Little  Wabash  river  and  its  branch- 
es, and  contains  good  second  rate  land,  tolerably  level. 
The  bottom  lands  on  the  Little  Wabash  are  rich,  and 
heavily  timbered,  but  are  inundated  for  a  day,  when 
the  river  rises  so  as  to  overflow  its  banks. 

Elfingham  county,  in  union  with  Fayette,  sends  one 
member  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and,  with  Fay- 
ette, Marion,  and  Clay,  one  to  the  senate.  It  belongs 
to  the  fourth  judicial  circuit. 

The  seat  of  justice  is    Ewington. 

FAYETTE    COUNTY. 

Fayette  County  was  formed  from  Bond,  Edwards,  Craw- 
ford, and  Clark*  in  1821,  embracing  a  large  extent  of 
territory,  extending  northward  to  the  Illinois  river, 
which  has  since  been  formed  into  several  counties.  It 
is  situated  on  the  Kaskaskia  river,  and  is  bounded  north, 
by  Shelby;  east,  by  Effingham;  south,  by  Marion,  and  a 
corner  of  Clinton;  and  west,  by  Bond  and  Montgomery. 
It  is  about  twenty-seven  miles  long,  and  twenty-four 
broad,  with  an  additional  township  at  the  south  east 


i 26  A    GAZETTEER 

corner,  and  contains  about  694  square  miles.  Van- 
dalia  the  present  seat  of  government  for  the  state,  is 
situated  towards  the  south  western  part.  Besides  the 
Kaskaskia  river,  which  passes  through  Fayette,  it  is 
watered  by  Hurricane  fork,  Higgin's,  Ramsey's,  and 
Beck's  creeks  on  the  west,  and  by  Big  and  Hickory 
creeks  on  the  east.  There  is  a  heavy  growth  of  timber 
in  several  parts  of  this  county,  especially  along  the 
Kaskaskia,  and  the  Hurricane  fork.  Besides  some  prai- 
ries of  convenient  size,  intersected  with  points  of  tim- 
ber, about  twelve  miles  in  width  of  the  eastern  side  of 
Fayette  is  in  the  Grand  prairie. 

The  bottom  lands  of  the  Kaskaskia  are  low,  subject 
to  inundation,  and  contain  many  small  lakes  and  ponds. 
The  country  around  Vandalia  is  undulating  and  well 
timbered,  and  the  soil  is  second  rate. 

The  principal  settlements  in  Fayette  are  Hurri- 
cane,Seminary  township,  Buckmaster'SjHall'sjBrown's, 
Wakefield's,  Haley's,  and  Big  creek. 

There  are  several  grist  mills  propelled  by  water  power 
in  the  county,  and  a  valuable  steam  saw  mill  at  Van- 
dalia. Fayette  belongs  to  the  second  judicial  circuit; 
and,  with  Effingham,  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of 
representatives,  and  with  Effingham,  Marion,  and  Clay, 
one  to  the  senate.  The  population  is  estimated  at  3,750. 

The  scat  of  justice  is  Vandalia. 

FRANKLIN    COUNTY. 

Franklin  Comity  was  formed  out  of  Gallatin,  White, 
and  an  attached  part  of  Jackson  county,  in  1818,  and  is 
situated  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state.  It  is  boun- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  12? 

ded  north,  by  Jefferson  county;  east,  by  Hamilton  and 
Gallatin;  south,  by  Johnson  and  Union;  and  west,  by 
Jackson  and  a  corner  of  Perry  counties.  It  is  thirty- 
six  miles  long  and  twenty- four  miles  wide;  making  864 
square  miles.  Franklin  county  is  watered  by  Big- Mud- 
dy river  and  branches,  and  the  south  fork  of  Saline 
creek.  The  prairies  are  generally  small  and  fertile, 
but  rather  too  level;  the  timber  is  good  and  in  abund- 
ance; the  soil  rather  sandy.  Its  products  are  similar 
to  those  counties  adjoining>  and  it  is  capable  of  being- 
made  a  rich  agricultural  county. 

Franklin  and  Washington  counties  jointly  send  two 
members  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and  with  Jack- 
son county,  one  member  to  the  senate.  It  is  attached 
to  the  third  judicial  circuit. 

The  county  seat  is  Frankfort. 

FULTON  COUNTY. 

Fulton  County  was  formed  from  Pike  county,  in  1825, 
and  is  bounded  north,  by  Knox,  and  a  corner  of  Peoria; 
east, by  Peoria,  and  the  Illinois  river;  south,  by  the  Illi- 
nois river,  and  Schuyler  county;  and  west,  by  Schuyler 
and  McDonough  counties. 

The  Illinois  washes  its  south  eastern  side,  and  give* 
it  an  irregular  shape.  The  Spoon  river  passes  through 
it;  and  Otter  creek  waters  the  south  western,  and  Co- 
peras  creek  the  north  eastern  portions. 

It  is  from  twenty-four  to  thirty  miles  long,  from  north 
to  south;  and  from  twelve  to  twenty-eight  miles  broad, 
— containing  about  sixteen  and  a  half  townships,  or  590 
square  miles, 


128  A    GAZETTEER 

Nearly  one  half  of  Fulton  county  is  heavily  timbered 
with  the  varieties  that  abound  on  the  military  tract;  and 
much,  both  of  its  prairie  and  timbered  land,  is  of  an  ex- 
cellent quality.  It  is  in  general  well  watered;  the 
streams  usually  flow  over  a  gravelly  bottom,  and  furnish 
many  good  mill  seats. 

Its  productions  are  and  will  continue  to  be  similar  to 
this  region  of  country;  and  the  Illinois  and  Spoon  rivers 
will  afford  facilities  to  market.  This  whole  region  on 
the  Illinois  must  shortly  become  a  wealthy  agricultural 
country. 

Fulton  county  belongs  to  the  fifth  judicial  circuit, 
and,  with  Knox  and  Henry,  sends  one  member  to  the 
house  of  representatives,  and  unites  with  five  other 
counties  in  sending  one  member  to  the  senate.  Popu- 
lation about  1,700. 

County  seat,  Lewiston. 

GALLATIN    COUNT V. 

Gallalin  County  joins  the  Wabash  and  the  Ohio,  in  the 
southeastern  co'rnerof  the  state,  and  was  organized,  in 
1912.  It  is  bounded  north,  by  White  county;  east,  by 
the  states  of  Indiana  and  Kentucky;  south,  by  Pope 
county;  and  west,  by  Pope  and  Franklin  counties. 

It  is  from  twenty-four  to  thirty  miles  long,  and  with  a 
medium  width  of  twenty-four  miles, — containing  about 
880  square  miles. 

Its  eastern  boundary  is  washed  by  the  Wabash  and 
Ohio  rivers,  and  the  interior  watered  by  the  Saline 
creek  and  its  tributaries. 

Sand  predominates  in  the  soil  of  this  part  of  the  state. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  129 

The  basis  rock  generally  is  sand  stone,  lying  probably 
upon  a  stratum  of  clay  slate. 

This  county  is  mostly  covered  with  timber,  amongst 
which  are  various  kinds  of  oak,  walnut,  poplar,  mulber- 
ry, hickory,  beech,  cypress,  and  the  other  kinds  found  in 
this  part  of  the  state. 

The  salines,  in  the  vicinity  of  Equality,  are  sources 
of  inexhaustible  wealth;  and,  besides  the  home  con- 
sumption, furnish  large  quantities  of  salt  for  exporta- 
tion. 

Other  articles  of  export,  are  horses,  beef,  pork,  cat- 
tle, lumber,  some  tobacco,  etc.  About  one  half  of  the 
salt  manufactured  at  the  salines  is  exchanged  for  corn, 
corn  meal,  flour,  beef,  pork,  potatoes,  and  every  species 
of  produce  raised  in  the  country,  to  support  the  esta- 
blishment. 

This  part  of  the  state  is  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of 
stock. 

Gallatin  county  contains  about  7,800  inhabitants.  It 
is  attached  to  the  third  judicial  circuit,  and  sends  two 
members  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and  one  mem- 
ber to  the  senate. 

Shawneetown  is  an  important  commercial  town  on 
the  Ohio. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Equality. 

GREENE    COUNTY. 

Greene  County  was  formed  from  Madison,  in  January, 
1821;  and  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Morgan;  east,  by 
Macoupen;  south,  by  Madison  and  the  Mississippi  river; 
9 


130  A    GAZETTEER 

and  west  by  the  Illinois  river,  which  separates  it  from 
Calhoun  and  Pike  counties. 

Its  medium  length  is  thirty-eight  miles  ;  width,  twen- 
ty-four miles;  superficial  contents  912  square  miles. 
The  Illinois  and  Mississippi  washes  its  western  and  a 
portion  of  its  southern  borders ;  Apple  and  Macoupen 
creeks  pass  through  it. 

The  banks  of  the  Mississippi  in  the  southerly  parts  of 
this  county  are  generally  composed  of  perpendicular 
cliffs,  varying  in  height  from  80  to  200  feet,  consisting 
of  horizontal  strata  of  lime  and  sand  stone ;  frequent- 
ly imbedded  with  coal.  The  latter  does  not  show  itself 
at  the  face  of  the  cliffs,  but  is  found  in  great  abundance 
a  short  distance  from  it.  These  cliffs  commence  at  Al- 
ton, and  extend  along  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers 
to  the  northern  part  of  the  county;  sometimes,  however, 
receding  several  miles  east,  leaving  a  low  and  fertile 
alluvion  which  is  usually  timbered  on  the  banks  of  the 
river,  and  a  prairie  surface  towards  the  bluffs. 

Greene  county  has  much  excellent  land,  both  timber 
and  prairie  ;  the  surface  approaches  nearer  to  a  level 
than  the  counties  further  north,  with  proportionate 
quantities  of  timber  and  prairie.  The  population  at  the 
last  census  was  7,871 ;  the  increase  since  would  make 
the  present  number  about  10,000. 

Greene  county  is  attached  to  the  first  judicial  circuit, 
and  sends  three  members  to  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, and  one  to  the  senate. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Carrollton. 


'OF    ILLINOIS.  131 

HAMILTON    COUNTY. 

Hamilton  County  was  formed  from  White  county,  in 
1821,  and  is  bounded  north,  by  Wayne  ;  east,  by  White  ; 
south,  by  Gallatin  ;  and  west,  by  Franklin  and  Jefferson 
counties.  It  is  twenty-one  miles  long,  and  eighteen 
broad, — area  378  square  miles. 

This   county  is  watered  by  branches   of  the  Saline 
creek,  and  Little  Wabash  river,  and  contains   a  large, 
proportion  of  timbered  land.     The  soil  generally  is  se- 
cond and  third  rate,  with  a  considerable  tract  of  swamp 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  county. 

Hamilton  county  belongs  to  the  third  judicial  circuit  ; 
sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and, 
with  Jefferson  county,  one  to  the  senate. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  JWcLeansboro'. 

HANCOCK  COUNTY. 

Hancock  County  was  formed  from  Pike  county,  in  1825. 
It  is  thirty  miles  in  length,  and  from  twenty-four  to 
thirty-two  miles  broad, — containing  about  775  square 
miles. 

It  lies  north  of  Adams,  west  of  McDonough,  south  of 
Warren,  and  is  washed  by  the  Mississippi  on.  its  west- 
ern side. 

Hancock  prairie,  from  twelve  to  twenty  miles  in  width , 
runs  from  south  to  north  through  this  county.  On  the 
east,  it  is  watered  by  the  branches  of  Crooked  creek; 
and  on  the  south  west,  by  Bear;  and  on  the  north  west, 
by  Camp  creek.  This  county  in  the  aggregate  is  defi- 
cient ia  timber.  The  banks  of  Bear  creek  furnish  a 


132  A    GAZETTEER 

supply  for  that  portion  of  the  county.  A  strip  lines  the 
bank  of  the  Mississippi,  in  some  places  of  considerable 
width  and  of  excellent  quality — in  other  places  narrow 
and  of  inferior  quality.  A  tolerably  dense  settlement 
extends  along  the  line  of  this  timber.  Crooked  creek 
furnishes  a  due  proportion  of  timber  and  prairie,  and  a 
body  of  excellent  land. 

Hancock  county  belongs  to  the  fifth  judicial  circuit, 
and  in  connection  with  Adams  and  Pike  counties,  sends 
one  senator  and  two  representatives  to  the  legislature. 

The  county  seat  is  Carthage. 

HENRY    COUNTY. 

The  boundaries  of  this  county  hare  been  designated, 
but  fpr  judicial  purposes  it  is  attached  to  Knox  county. 
Its  population  is  small,  amounting,  perhaps,  to  fifty 
families. 

It  is  bounded  north,  by  Rock  river,  which  separates  it 
from  Jo  Daviess  county;  east,  by  Jo  Daviess  and  Put- 
nam counties,  south,  by  Knox;  and  west,  by  Mercer  and 
Rock  Island  counties.  It  is  thirty  miles  long  east  and 
west,  and  about  twenty-eight  miles  broad, — area  800 
square  miles.  It  is  watered  by  Edwards,  and  some  of 
the  head  branches  of  Spoon  river,  Rock  river,  and  the 
Winnebago  swamp  and  outlet. 

About  the  Big  grove,  Fraker's  settlement,  and  on  Ed- 
wards river  is  considerable  good  land,  but  in  general 
Henry  county  is  not  equal  to  the  counties  contiguous. 
The  Winnebago  swamp  spreads  along  its  northern  side  ; 
and  there  is  considerable  level,  wet,  swampy  land  be- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  133 

tween  the  waters  that  fall  into  Mississippi  and  those 
that  flow  to  the  Illinois. 

There  is  good  land  enough  within  its  borders  to  make 
a  respectable  county,  and  it  will  be  organized  by  an  or- 
der of  court  as  soon  as  350  inhabitants  are  within  its 
boundaries. 

IROQUOIS    COUNTY. 

This  county  was  laid  off  by  the  legislature,  in  1833, 
but  for  judicial  purposes  is  attached  to  Vermilion  coun- 
ty. It  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Cook  county  ;  east, 
by  the  state  of  Indiana;  south,  by  Vermilion  county  ; 
and  west,  by  an  irregular  strip  of  country,  left  out  of 
the  jurisdiction  of  any  county. 

It  is  about  sixty  miles  long  and  thirty-six  broad, — 
containing  about  2,160  square  miles. 

Kankakee,  Iroquois,  and  Sugar  creeks  are  its  large 
water  courses.  A  large  proportion  of  this  county  is 
prairie;  the  timber  is  in  groves,  and  strips  along  the 
streams. 

Settlements  have  been  formed  to  some  extent  on  Iro- 
quois and  Sugar  creeks.  There  are  many  sand  ridges 
and  plains  in  this  region,  but  considerable  portions  of 
prairie  are  very  rich.  It  will  be  organized  by  order  of 
court  when  evidence  is  presented  that  there  are  350 
inhabitants  within  its  boundaries. 

JACKSON    COUNTY. 

Jackson  County  was  formed  from  Randolph  and  John- 
son, in  1816.  It  is  situated  on  the  Mississippi,  and  has 
Randoloh  cotmtv  on  the  north.  Franklin  east.  Union 


134  A    GAZETTEER 

south,  and  the  Mississippi  river  and  a  portion  of  Ran- 
dolph west.  It  is  twenty-four  miles  from  north  to  south, 
and  from  eighteen  to  twenty-eight  miles  from  east  to 
west, — its  area  is  about  576  square  miles.  This  county 
is  watered  by  Muddy  river  and  its  tributaries. 

On  this  stream,  near  Brownsville,  is  a  saline  where 
considerable  quantities  of  salt  are  manufactured. 

Jackson  county  is  generally  a  timbered  tract  of  coun- 
try, except  towards  its  north  eastern  part  where  are 
some  fine  prairies.  The  timber  in  this  county  and 
along  the  Muddy,  is  of  the  various  kinds  common  to  this 
portion  of  the  state,  as  oaks  of  several  species,  hickory, 
elm,  poplar,  walnut,  sugar  maple,  etc. 

Its  exports  are  salt,  coal,  pork,  beef,  horses,  etc. 
The  salt  and  coal  business  of  this  county  are  noticed 
under  the  head  of  manufactures. 

Jackson  county  belongs  to  the  third  judicial  circuit, 
and  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representatives, 
and,  with  Franklin  and  Washington,  one  member  to  the 
senate.  Population  about  2,500. 

County  seat  Brownsville. 

JASPER    COUNTY. 

Jasper  County  was  formed  out  of  Crawford,  and  small 
portions  of  Lawrence  and  Clay,  in  1831,  but  never  yet 
has  been  organized.  For  judicial  purposes  it  has  been 
attached  to  Crawford,  to  become  organized  by  the  order 
of  the  judge  of  that  circuit,  when  the  population  shall 
amount  to  350. 

It  is  bounded  north,  by  Coles  ;  east,  by  Crawford  ; 
south,  by  Lawrence  and  Clay;  and  west,  by  a  corner 


OF    ILLINOIS.  135 

of  Clay,  and  Effingham.  It  is  twenty-three  miles  long, 
and  twenty-one  wide, — and  contains  about  488  square 
miles.  The  Embarras  runs  through  it,  and  the  Muddy 
Fork  of  the  Little  Wabash  waters  its  western  side. 
Much  of  the  prairie  and  timbered  land  of  this  county 
is  level,  wet,  and  of  an  inferior  quality.  The  settle- 
ments are  small,  amounting  to  fifty  or  sixty  families. 

On  the  North  Fork  and  the  main  Embarras  are  some 
good  tracts  of  fertile  soil. 

The  county  seat  when  selected  and  located,  will  be 
called  Newton. 

JEFFERSON    COUNTY. 

Jejferson  County  was  organized  from  Edwards  and 
White  counties,  in  1819.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north, 
by  Marion;  east,  by  Wayne  and  Hamilton;  south,  by 
Franklin;  and  west,  by  Perry  and  Washington.  It  is 
twenty-four  miles  long  and  the  same  in  width, — contain- 
ing 576  square  miles. 

Jefferson  county  is  watered  by  several  branches  of 
the  Big  Muddy,  which  head  in  this  county,  and  a  small 
branch  of  the  Little  Wabash. 

The  soil  is  tolerable  second  rate  land,  about  one  third 
prairie;  the  timbered  land  is  covered  with  various  kinds 
of  oak,  hickory,  elm,  sugar  tree,  etc. 

Its  productions  find  their  market  either  at  Shawnee- 
town  or  St.  Louis.  Its  prairies,  all  of  which  contain 
good  settlements,  are  Casey's,  Jordon's,  Moore's,  Wal- 
nut Hill,  Arm  of  Grand,  and  Long  prairie.  Its  streams 
are  East,  Middle,  and  West  Forks  of  Big  Muddy  river, 
and  Adams's  branch  of  Skillet  Fork. 


136  A    GAZETTEER 

Jefferson  county  is  attached  to  the  third  judicial  cir- 
cuit, and  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, and,  with  Hamilton  county,  one  member  to  the 
senate. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Mount  Vernon. 

JO    DAVIESS    COUNTY. 

Jo  Damess  County  was  formed  in  1827,  and  embraces 
an  extensive  tract  in  the  north  western  part  of  the 
state,  including  that  portion  of  the  lead  mine  region 
which  lies  within  the  boundaries  of  Illinois. 

It  has  Iowa  county,  of  the  Wisconsin  territory,  on  the 
north;  Rock  river,  which  divides  it  from  the  northern 
portions  of  La  Salle  and  Cook  counties,  on  the  east; 
Putnam,  Henry,  and  Rock  Island  counties,  on  the  south: 
and  the  Mississippi  river  west. 

It  is  watered  by  Fever  river,  Apple,  Rush,  and  Plum 
creeks,  Pee-ka-ton-o'kee,  and  some  smaller  streams. 

This  county  is  rich,  both  for  agricultural  and  mining 
purposes.  Lead  and  copper  are  in  abundance  here.  Like 
all  the  northern  part  of  Illinois,  timber  is  scarce.  The 
surface  is  undulating — in  some  places  hilly — well  water- 
ed, both  with  springs  and  mill  streams. 

The  timber  is  in  groves,  and  upon  the  margins  of  the 
streams.  This  must  be  eventually  a  rich  and  flourishing 
portion  of  Illinois,  and  will  doutless  be  formed  into  seve- 
ral counties,  when  it  becomes  spread  over  with  a  suffi- 
cient population. 

The  county  was  named  in  honor  of  the  late  general 
Joseph  H.  Daviess,  of  Kentucky,  who  gallantly  fell,  in 
the  disastrous  battle  of  Tippacanoe,  in  1811.  It  was 


OF    ILLINOIS.  137 

bad  taste,  however,  in  the  legislature,  to  affix  the  ap- 
pellation of  Jo  to  a  name  that  has  received  marked  re- 
spect in  the  western  states. 

The  chief  export  of  this  region  is  lead;  but  it  is  a  fine 
country  for  both  grain  and  stock. 

Jo  Daviess  county  is  attached  to  the  fifth  judicial  dis- 
trict, and,  with  Peoria,  Putnam,  La  Salle,  and  Cook, 
sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and 
one  member  to  the  senate. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Galena. 

JOHNSON    COUNTY. 

Johnson  Comity  was  organized  from  Randolph,  in  1812, 
and  is  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state.  It  is 
bounded  north,  by  Franklin;  east,  by  Pope;  south,  by  the 
Ohio  river;  and  west,  by  Union  and  Alexander  counties. 

It  is  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  miles  long;  breadth, 
eighteen;  its  area,  about  486  square  miles. 

The  interior  of  the  county  is  watered  by  Cash  river 
and  Big  Bay  creek.  Between  these  streams  and  ten  or 
or  twelve  miles  from  the  Ohio  river,  which  washes  its 
southern  boundary,  are  a  line  of  ponds,  interspersed 
with  ridges  and  islands  of  rich  land;  and  at  high  water, 
a  large  current  passes  out  of  Big  Bay  into  Cash  river. 

On  the  south  side  of  these  ponds  is  very  rich  land, 
with  a  string  of  settlements;  but  an  unhealthy  region. 
Between  this  tract  and  the  Ohio  river,  is  a  tract  of  bar- 
rens and  timber,  with  a  tolerably  good  soil,  but  not 
much  population.  A  line  of  settlements  contiguous  to 
the  Ohio  river  extend  through  the  county. 

Johnson  county  contains  considerable  quantities  of 


138  A   GAZETTEER 

good  land,  tolerably  level,  well  timbered,  and  inclining 
to  a  sandy  soil.  The  principal  timber  in  this  region,  is 
cypress,  sugar  maple,  oaks  of  various  species,  hickory, 
sweet  gum,  with  some  poplar,  elm,  walnut,  and  cedar. 

Johnson  county  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  re- 
presentatives, and,  with  Pope,  one  to  the  senate.  It 
belongs  to  the  third  judicial  district. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Vienna. 

KNOX    COUNTY. 

Knox  County  is  bounded  north,  by  Henry;  east,  byPeo- 
ria,  and  a  corner  of  Putnam;  south,  by  Fulton;  and  west, 
by  Warren. 

It  is  thirty  miles  long,  and  from  twenty-four  to  thirty 
miles  broad,— containing  792  square  miles. 

It  is  watered  by  Henderson  and  Spoon  rivers,  and 
their  tributaries. 

The  prairies  in  this  county  are  large  and  generally  of 
the  best  quality;  and  there  are  several  large  and  excel- 
lent tracts  of  timber  on  the  water  courses.  The  soil  in 
general  is  of  the  first  quality. 

Knox  county  was  laid  off  by  the  legislature  in  a  gene- 
ral distribution  of  counties  on  the  military  tract,  in  Ja- 
nuary, 1825,  though  not  organized  for  judicial  purposes 
till  about  five  years  after. 

In  representation  it  is  attached  to  several  other  coun- 
ties in  this  part  of  the  state,  and  belongs  to  the  fifth  ju- 
dicial circuit.  Population,  about  15000. 

County  seat,  Knoxville. 


OF   ILLINOIS.  139 

LA   SALLE    COUNTY. 

La  Salle  County  was  formed  in  1831.  It  lies  west  of 
Cook;  north  of  McLean;  and  east  of  Putnam, — embra- 
cing a  fine  tract  of  country  on  both  sides  of  the  Illinois 
river  about  the  rapids. 

It  is  forty-eight  miles  in  extent, — containing  2,304 
square  miles. 

Besides  the  Illinois  river,  which  passes  through  it, 
Fox  river,  Big  and  Little  Vermilion,  Crow  creek,  An 
Sable,  Indian  creek,  Mason,  Tomahawk,  and  several 
smaller  streams  water  this  county.  In  general,  the 
streams  in  this  part  of  the  state  run  over  a  rock  or  gra- 
velly bed,  and  have  but  few  alluvial  bottoms  near  them. 

Like  the  adjacent  counties,  La  Salle  is  deficient  in 
timber;  but  contains  abundance  of  rich,  undulating,  dry 
prairie,  fine  mill  streams,  extensive  coal  beds,  and  must 
eventually  become  a  rich  county.  Its  situation  will 
enable  the  population  to  send  off  their  produce  either  by 
the  Illinois  river  to  a  southern  market,  or  by  the  lakes 
to  the  north. 

La  Salle  county  belongs  to  the  fifth  judicial  circuit, 
and,  with  Jo  Daviess,  Putnam,  Peoria,  and  Cook,  sends 
one  senator  and  one  representative  to  the  legislature. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Ottawa. 

LAWRENCE    COUNTY. 

Lawrence  County  was  formed  in  1821,  from  a  part  of 
Edwards  and  Crawford,  and  is  situated  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  state,  opposite  Vincennes. 

It  is  bounded  north,  by  Crawford, and  a  corner  of  Jas- 


140  A    GAZETTEER 

per;  east,  by  the  Wabash  river;  south,  by  Wabash  and 
Edwards  counties;  and  west,  by  Clay. 

It  is  twenty  miles  across,  north  and  south,  and  a  me- 
dium length  of  twenty-eight  miles, — containing  about 
560  square  miles. 

It  is  watered  by  the  Embarras  river,  and  Racoon 
creek,  which  pass  through  it,  and  Fox  river  on  its  west- 
ern border.  The  banks  of  these  streams  are  low  and 
subject  to  inundation. 

In  the  low  prairies,  near  the  Wabash,  are  swamps 
and  slovs,  known  by  the  name  of  "purgatory,"  which, 
in  a  wet  season,  are  miry,  and  extremely  unpleasant  to 
the  traveler.  Over  some  of  these,  bridges  and  levees 
are  now  constructed.  In  a  dry  season,  the  water  evapo- 
rates, and  the  ground  becomes  firm. 

Lawrence  county  contains  about  an  equal  proportion 
of  timber  and  prairie,  some  of  which  is  inferior  land,  and 
other  portions  of  an  excellent  quality. 

Its  exports  are  corn,  beef,  pork,  cattle,  etc.  much  of 
which  is  sent  down  the  big  Wabash  in  flat  boats  to  New 
Orleans. 

This  county  belongs  to  the  fourth  judicial  circuit,  and 
sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and, 
with  Crawford,  one  to  the  senate. 

The  county  seat  is  Lawrencemlle. 

MACON  COUNTY. 

Jtfacon  County  was  formed  from  the  attached  part  of 
Shelby ,  in  1829,  and  is  bounded  north,  by  McLean;  east, 
by  Champaign  and  Coles;  south,  by  Shelby;  and  west, 
by  Sangamon. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  141 

It  is  thirty-nine  miles  long,  and  thirty-six  broad, — 
containing  1,404  square  miles. 

The  south  eastern  portion  is  watered  by  the  Kaskaskia 
and  its  tributaries;  the  middle  and  northern  portions  by 
the  North  Fork  of  the  Sangamon;  and  the  north  western 
part  by  Salt  creek. 

There  is  much  first  rate  land  in  Macon  county.  Some 
of  the  prairies  are  large,  and,  in  the  interior,  level  and 
wet;  but  generally  dry,  rich,  and  undulating  near  the 
timber. 

Macon  county  is  attached  to  the  first  judicial  circuit, 
and  is  united  with  Shelby  county  in  its  representation. 
The  population  is  estimated  at  1,500. 

The  county  seat  is  Decatur. 

MADISON    COUNTY. 

Madison  County  was  organized  from  St.  Clair  county, 
in  1812,  and  then  embraced  a  large  portion  of  the  state. 
It  is  now  bounded  north,  by  Greene,  Macoupen,  and  a 
corner  of  Montgomery  counties;  east,  by  Bond,  and  a 
corner  of  Clinton;  south,  by  St.  Clair;  and  west,  by  the 
Mississippi. 

It  is  twenty-four  miles  from  north  to  south;  and  from 
twenty-eight  to  thirty-six  miles  from  east  to  west, — and 
contains  about  750  square  miles. 

It  is  watered  by  Silver  and  Cahokia  creeks,  and  Wood 
river,  and  their  branches. 

A  portion  of  this  county  lies  in  the  American  bottom, 
but  much  of  it  is  high,  undulating,  and  proportionably  di- 
vided into  timber  and  prairie. 


142 


A    GAZETTEER 


Settlements  were  formed  in  this  county  about  thirty 
vears  since.  Coal,  and  building  stone,  are  abundant. 
Around  Alton, and  along  Wood  river,  andCahokia  creek, 
is  one  of  the  finest  bodies  of  timber  in  this  part  of 


state. 


'    The  prairies  are  very  advantageously  situated  for  set- 
tlements, and  will  soon  be  covered  with  well  cultivated 
farms.     Wheat,  corn,  beef,  pork,  horses,  cattle,  and  a 
most    every  production   of  Illinois,  are  raised 
county,  and  find  a  ready  market. 

Madison  county  belongs  to  the  second  judicial  circuit 
and  sends  one  senator  and  two  representatives  t 
legislature. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Edwardsville. 

MACOUPEN   COUNTY. 

Jtocoupen  County  was  organized  from  the  attached  por- 
tion of  Greene  county,  in  1329.  It  is  bounded  north,  by 
Sangarnon  and  Morgan;  east,  by  Montgomery;  south,  by 
Madison;  and  west,  by  Greene.  It  is  thirty-six  mile 
long,  from  north  to  south;  and  twenty-four  miles  broad, 
—containing  864  square  miles. 

The  Macoupen  creek  and  its  branches  water  the  mid 
die  and  western  parts,  the  Cahokia  creek  the  south  east- 
ern, and  the  heads  of  Wood  river  and  Piasau,  the  « 
western  parts  of  the  county. 

Some  of  the  prairies  on  the  eastern  side  are  large,  le 
vel,  and  wet;  but  a  large  portion  of  the  county  is  , 
lent  soil,  and  well  proportioned  into  timber  and  prai 
and  rapidly  settling.     About  one  third  of  the  county  u 
timbered  land.    It  is  an  excellent  agricultural  county, 


OF   ILLINOIS.  143 

and  will  soon  produce  large  quantities  of  pork,  beef 
wheat,  etc.  which  will  naturally  reach  the  market  at 
Alton. 

Macoupen  county  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of 
representatives,  and,  with  Bond  and  Montgomery  one 
to  the  senate.  The  county  seat  is  Carlinville. 

MARION    COUNTY. 

Marion  County  lies  in  the  interior  of  the  state,  and  is 
bounded  north,  by  Fayette;  east,  by  Clay,  and  a  corner 
of  Wayne;  south,  by  Jefferson;  and  west,  by  Clinton, 
and  a  corner  of  Fayette. 

It  was   formed  from  Jefferson  and  Fayette  counties 
in  1823,  is  twenty-four  miles  in  extent,  and  contains' 
576  square  miles. 

^  Marion  county  embraces  the  southern  part  of  the 
Grand  prairie,  and  is  watered  by  Crooked  creek,  and 
the  East  Fork  of  the  Kaskaskia,  on  its  western,  and 
Skillet  Fork  on  its  eastern  side. 

It  has  considerable  land  of  second  quality;  about  one 
third  timber,  and  the  rest,  prairie.  Considerable  post 
oak  timber  is  found  in  this  county. 

Marion  county  is  attached  to  the  third  judicial  cir- 
cuit, sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representatives 
and,  with  Fayette  and  Clay,  one  member  to  the  senate. 
The  county  seat  is  Salem. 
Increase  of  population,  fifteen  per  cent. 

McDONOUGH    COUNTY. 

McDonough  County  was  formed  from  Pike  county,  in 
1825,  but  not  organized  till  1829.  It  is  situated  in  the 


144  A   GAZETTEER 

centre  of  the  military  tract;  is  bounded  north,  by  War- 
ren; east,  by  Fulton;  south,  by  Schuyler;  and  west,  by 
Hancock. 

It  is  twenty-four  miles  square,  with  an  area  of  six- 
teen townships,  576  square  miles,  and  368,640  acres. 

Crooked  creek  and  its  branches  water  most  of  this 
tract.  The  eastern  side  of  McDonough  county  for  eight 
or  ten  miles  in  width  is  prairie;  the  remainder  is  suita- 
bly proportioned  into  timber  and  prairie,  of  the  richest 
quality.  A  tract  of  country,  fifteen  or  twenty  miles 
square,  taken  from  the  eastern  side  of  Hancock  and  the 
western  half  of  McDonough,  is  not  excelled  for  agricul- 
tural purposes  by  any  portion  of  the  great  valley. 

Most  of  the  streams  have  good  mill  seats  for  a  portion 
of  the  year. 

McDonough  county  is  attached  to  the  fifth  judicial  cir- 
cuit, and  is  united  with  several  other  counties  in  its  re- 
presentation. 

The  population  is  rapidly  increasing. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Macomb. 

MCLEAN  COUNTY. 

McLean  County  has  La  Salle  on  the  north;  an  irregu- 
lar strip  of  country,  and  a  corner  of  Champaign  county, 
east;  Macon,  south;  Sangamon  touches  it  on  the  south 
west;  and  Tazeweli  lies  west. 

It  is  forty-eight  miles  long,  and  forty-two  broad, — 
having  fifty-six  townships,  or  1,916  square  miles. 

One  third  of  the  eastern,  and  a  portion  of  the  north- 
ern side  of  this  county  is  one  vast  prairie,  and  yet  it  has 


or  ILLINOIS.  145 

large  tracts  of  the  finest  timbered  land  in  the  state. 
The  timber  is  beautifully  arranged  in  groves  of  various 
shapes  and  sizes,  from  those  of  fifteen  or  eighteen  square 
miles,  down  to  those  of  a  few  acres. 

McLean  county  is  watered  by  the  Mackinaw,  Kicka- 
poo,  Sugar  creek,  and  Salt  creek,  all  which  take  their 
rise  in  the  prairies  of  this  county.  The  heads  of  the 
Vermilion  river  of  the  Illinois  are  found  in  the  north 
eastern  corner,  and  those  of  Sangamon  are  on  the  east- 
ern skirts.  These  streams  furnish  good  mill  seats  when 
the  water  is  not  too  low. 

The  country  is  elevated,  moderately  undulating,  and 
of  a  rich  soil.  Where  timber  exists  it  is  usually  of  ex- 
cellent quality.  Here  are  to  be  found  oak  of  various 
species,walnut,hickory,ash,  sugar  maple,  elm,hackber- 
ry,  linden,  cherry,  and  many  other  kinds.  Papaw  is 
frequently  amongst  the  smaller  growth. 

Of  the  minerals,  limestone  is  found  on  the  branches  of 
the  Vermilion.  Granite,  in  detached  masses,  or  bould- 
ers, called  by  the  settlers  "lost  rocks,"  and  used  for 
mill  stones,  are  plentifully  scattered  over  the  country. 
Coal  is  found  in  several  settlements. 

McLean  county  belongs  to  the  first  judicial  circuit^ 
and  with  Tazewell  county,  sends  one  member  to  each 
branch  of  the  legislature. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Bloomington. 

MERCER    COUNTY. 

Mercer  County  lies  north  of  Warren;  west  of  Henry; 
and  south  of  Rock  Island  counties,  and  has  the  Missis- 
sippi on  its  western  side. 

10 


146  A   GAZETTEER 

It  is  watered  by  Pope  and  Edwards  rivers,  along  which 
are  excellent  tracts  of  land  and  some  fine  timber.  Along 
the  Mississippi,  and  the  borders  of  its  rivers  there  IB 
plenty  of  timber;  but  its  middle  and  eastern  portions 
have  extensive  tracts  of  prairie. 

Owing  to  the  late  Indian  war,  the  population  is  limit- 
ed to  a  few  families.  Doubtless  it  will  contain  the  re- 
quisite number,  in  a  year  or  two  to  become  organized. 
It  is  said  by  those  who  have  resided  in  this  and  the  ad- 
joining counties,  that  the  seasons  are  more  uniform  than 
in  the  counties  further  south.  Winter  is  more  uniform 
and  severe;  but  the  frosts  of  spring  and  autumn  do  not 
interrupt  the  labor  of  the  husbandman  as  much  as  in  the 
region  of  St.  Louis. 

MONROE    COUNTY. 

Monroe  County  was  formed  out  of  Randolph  and  St.- 
Clair  counties,  in  1816.  It  is  bounded  north,  by  St.  Clair 
east,  by  St.  Clair  and  Randolph;  south,  by  Randolph;  and 
west  by  the  Mississippi.  Its  shape  is  quite  irregular^ 
its  average  length  is  twenty  miles;  average  width  eigh- 
teen miles, — containing  about  360  square  miles. 

It  is  watered  by  Horse,  Prairie  de  Long,  and  Eagle 
creeks.  The  American  bottom,  uhich  is  alluvion,  runs 
through  the  county  adjacent  to  the  Mississippi,  and  is 
divided  into  timber  and  prairie.  On  the  bluffs,  the 
country  is  hilly  and  broken,  with  sink  holes.  Around 
Waterloo,  and  New  Design,  and  on  the  eastern  border 
of  the  county,  is  considerable  good  land,  and  a  mixture 
of  timber  and  prairie. 
Monroe  county  is  attached  to  the  second  judicial  cir- 


OP   ILLINOIS.  147 

cuit,  and  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, and,  with  Clinton  county,  one  to  the  senate . 
The  seat  of  justice  is  Waterloo. 

MONTGOMERY  COUNTY. 

Montgomery  County  was  formed  from  Bond,  in  1921.  It 
is  bounded  north,  by  Sangamon;  east,  by  Shelby  and 
Fayette;  south,  by  Bond;  and  west,  by  Madison  and  Ma- 
coupen counties. 

It  is  thirty-four  miles  long,  with  an  average  width  of 
twenty-seven  miles,  and  has  about  960  square  miles. 

It  is  watered  by  Shoabcreek  and  its  branches,  some  of 
the  heads  of  the  Maooupen,  a  branch  of  the  Stmth  Fork  of 
the  Sangamon,  and  the  Hurricane  Fork,  and  is  propor- 
tionably  divided  into  timber  and  prairie.     The  surface 
is  generally  high  and  undulating. 

Montgomery  county  belongs  to  the  second  judicial  cir- 
cuit, and  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, and,  in  connection  with  Bond  and  Macoupen,  one 
to  the  senate.  \ 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Hillsboro', 

MORGAN  COUNTY. 

Morgan  County ,  one  of  the  most  flourishing  counties  ia 
the  state,  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  Illinois  river,  was 
formed  from  the  attached  part  of  Greene,  in  January, 
1823. 

It  is  bounded  north,  and  east,  by  Sangamon;  south,  by 
Macoupen  and  Greene;  and  west,  by  the  Illinois  river, 
which  separates  it  from  Pike  and  Schuyler.  It  is  thirty" 


148  A    GAZETTEER 

six  miles  long;  medium  width,  thirty;  area,  1,114  square 
miles. 

The  Illinois  river  washes  its  western  border;  Indian, 
Mauvaiseterre,  Apple,  Sandy,  and  several  smaller  creeks 
rise  within  its  borders,  and  pass  through  it,  furnishing 
many  good  mill  seats. 

Morgan  county  is  destined  to  become  one  of  the  rich- 
est agricultural  counties  in  the  state.  In  1821,  the 
tract  of  country  embraced  within  the  limits  of  this 
county,  contained  only  twenty  families.  In  1625,  its 
population  was  4,052;  in  1830,  it  was  13,281;  and  now, 
[Feb.  1834]  is  estimated  at  25,000. 

It  is  well  proportioned  into  timber  and  prairie,  well 
watered,  and  contains  many  extensive  and  well  culti- 
vated farms.  In  this  county  are  more  than  thirty  mills 
for  sawing  and  grinding,  propelled  by  animal  or  water 
power.  Seven  large  steam  mills  are  in  operation,  and 
two  mere  have  been  commenced,  and  will  be  finished 
the  present  year.- 

Improved  farms,  in  the  populous  parts  of  the  county, 
sell  for  from  eight  to  fifteen  dollars  per  acre;  several 
towns  and  villages  have  been  commenced  besides  Jack- 
sonville, which  are  in  a  thriving  condition. 

Emigration,  attended  with  industry  and  enterprise, 
in  a  few  fleeting  years,  has  changed  a  region  that  we 
have  seen  in  all  the  wildness  of  uncultivated  nature,  into 
smiling  villages  and  luxuriant  fields,  and  rendered  it  the 
happy  abode  of  intelligence  and  virtue. 

Morgan  county  is  in  the  advance  of  other  counties  in 
those  enterprises  which  tend  to  form,  habits  of  virtue* 


OF    ILLINOIS.  149 

and  ennoble  the  deathless  mind.  It  has  a  vigorous  Bible 
Society,  with  branches  in  several  settlements;  a  Sun- 
day School  Union,  with  about  seventy  Sabbath  schools. 
An  equal  number  of  common  schools  are  taught  a  portion 
of  the  year  during  the  week.  Temperance  societies 
exert  an  influence  in  many  settlements.  The  "Illinios 
college"  is  noticed  in  its  proper  place. 

Morgan  county  belongs  to  the  first  judicial  circuit, 
sends  four  members  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and 
two  to  the  senate. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Jacksonville. 

PEORIA    COUNTY. 

Peoria  County  lies  on  the  west  side  of  the  Illinois 
river,  about  two  hundred  miles  by  water,  and  a  hundred 
and  fifty  by  land,  above  the  junction  of  the  Mississippi. 
This  county  contains  considerable  tracts  of  excellent 
land. 

Its  principal  settlements  are  Peoria, Kickapoo  creek, 
La  Salle  prairie,  Senatchwine,  Prince's  and  Harkness' 
settlements. 

It  is  watered  by  the  Kickapoo,  the  heads  of  Spoon 
river,  Copperas  creek,  and  the  Senatchwine.  On  the 
Kickapoo,  and  on  the  shore  of  Peoria  lake,  for  several 
miles,  the  timber  is  good,  but  the  prairie  predominates. 

Peoria  county  was  formed  from  Pike  county,  in  1825, 
and  is  bounded  north,  by  Putnam;  east,  by  Tazewell; 
south,  by  Fulton;  and  west,  by  Knox.  It  is  about  twenty- 
seven  miles  long,  and  has  an  average  width  of  twenty- 
four  miles, — containing  about  648  square  miles. 


150  A    GAZETTEER 

One  of  the  principal  roads  to  Galena  passes  through 
this  county. 

The  surface  of  the  land  is  moderately  rolling;  on  the 
Kickapoo  it  degenerates  into  bluffs  and  ravines.  In 
the  western  and  north  western  portion  there  is  a  scarci- 
ty of  timber.  Between  Peoria  and  La  Salle  prairie  is 
heavy  timber,  from  two  to  five  miles  in  width,  and  in 
places  beyond  the  bluffs.  In  the  bottom  land,  adjoining 
the  lake,  are  spots  that  overflow;  but  in  general,  it  is  fit 
for  cultivation.  The  bottom  timber  consists  of  oaks  of 
various  species,  white  and  black  walnut,  ash,  hackberry, 
locust,  and  some  hickory,  buckeye,  coffee  nut,  and  grape 
vines. 

Peoria  county  belongs  to  the  fifth  judicial  district, 
and,  in  connection  with  Jo  Daviess,  Putnam,  La  Salle, 
and  Cook,  sends  one  member  to  each  branch  of  the  le- 
gislature.. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Peoria. 

PERRY   COUNTY. 

Perry  County  was  organized  from  Randolph  and  Jack- 
son counties,  in  1827,  and  is  bounded  north, by  Washing- 
ton; east,  by  Jefferson  and  Franklin;  south,  by  Jack- 
son; and  west,  by  Randolph.  It  is  twenty-four  miles 
long,  from  east  to  west,  and  eighteen  miles  wide, — con- 
taining 432  square  miles. 

The  Big  Beaucoup  and  its  tributaries  run  through  the 
middle  of  this  county,  from  north  to  south,  and  the  Lit- 
tle Muddy  touches  its  eastern  border. 

About  one  third  of  Perry  county  is  prairie,  tolerably 


OF    ILLINOIS.  151 

level,  good  soil,  and  susceptible  of  immediate  cultiva- 
tion. 

Its  productions  are  corn,  beef  cattle,  pork,  tobacco, 
and  some  cotton.  This  little  county  has  sent  to  mar- 
ket not  less  than  500  fat  steers,  and  1000  fat  hogs  per. 
annum,  for  two  or  three  years  past. 

Perry  and  Randolph  counties  jointly  send  two  mem- 
bers to  the  house  of  representatives,  and  one  member 
Co  the  senate.  It  belongs  to  the  third  judicial  district. 

Pinckneyvilleis  the  seat  of  justice. 

PIKE    COUNTY. 

Pike  County  is  the  oldest  county  on  the  military  tract, 
and  was  erected  from  Madison  and  other  counties,  in 
1821.  It  then  embraced  the  whole  country  north  and 
west  of  the  Illinois  river;  but  by  the  subsequent  forma- 
tion of  new  counties,  it  is  now  reduced  to  ordinary  size, 
containing  about  twenty-two  townships,  or  SCO  square 
miles. 

It  is  bounded  north,  by  Adams;  east,  by  Schuyler,  and 
the  Illinois  river;  south,  by  that  river  andCalhoun;  and 
west,  by  the  Mississippi. 

Besides  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers,  which  wash 
two  sides,  it  has  the  Snycartee  slough  running  the  whole 
length  of  its  western  border,  which  affords  steam  boat 
navigation  to  Atlas  at  a  full  stage  of  water.  Pike  coun- 
ty is  watered  by  the  Pigeon,  Hadley,  Keys,  Black,  Dutch 
Church,  Six  Mile,  and  Bay  creeks,  which  fall  into  the 
Mississippi;  and  Big  and  Little  Blue,  and  the  North  and 
West  forks  of  McKee's  creeks,  which  enter  the  Illinois. 
Good  mill  seats  are  furnished  by  these  streams. 


152  A  GAZETTEER 

The  land  is  various.  The  section  of  country,  or  rather 
island,  between  the  Snycartee  slough  and  the  Mississip- 
pi, is  a  sandy  soil,  but  mostly  inundated  land  at  the 
spring  floods.  It  furnishes  a  great  summer  and  winter 
range  for  stock,  affording  considerable  open  prairie; 
with  skirts  of  heavy  bottom  timber  near  the  streams. 
Along  the  bluffs,  and  for  two  or  three  miles  back,  tb,e 
land  is  chiefly  timbered  but  cut  up  with  ravines,  and 
quite  rolling.  In  the  interior,  and  towards  Schuyler 
county,  excellent  prairie  and  timbered  uplands  are 
found,  especially  about  the  Blue  rivers  and  McKee's 
creek.  This  must  eventually  become  a  rich  and  popu- 
lous county. 

In  Pleasant  Vale,  on  Key's  creek,  is  a  salt  spring, 
twenty  feet  in  diameter,  which  boils  from  the  earth,  and 
throws  off  a  stream  of  some  size  forming  a  salt  pond  in 
its  vicinity.  Salt  has  been  made  here,  though  not  in 
great  quantities. 

In  the  county  are  seven  water  saw  mills,  four  grist 
mills,  one  carding  machine,  five  stores,  and  a  horse  fer- 
ry boat  that  crosses  the  Mississippi  to  Louisiana. 

Pike  county  is  connected  with  Adams  and  Hancock 
in  its  representation  to  the  legislature,  and  belongs  to 
the  first  judicial  circuit. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Pittsfield. 

POPE    COUNTY. 

Pope  County  was  formed  from  Gallatin  and  Johnson 
counties,  and  is  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
state,  and  is  bounded  north,  by  Gallatin;  east  and  south, 
by  the  Ohio  river;  and  west,  by  Johnson  county. 


Of    ILLINOIS.  153 

It  was  organized  as  a  county,  in  1816,  by  the  territo- 
rial government;  and,  after  having  been  subsequently 
reduced,  is  now  thirty-six  miles  long,  with  a  medium 
width  of  about  sixteen  miles,  and  an  area  576  square 
miles. 

The  Ohio  makes  a  bend  so  as  to  wash  its  eastern  and 
southern  sides,  and  project  into  the  interior.  Big  Bay 
creek  rises  towards  its  north  western  corner,  and,  after 
entering  Johnson  county,  turns  again  into  Pope,  and 
runs  a  southeastern  course  to  the  Ohio.  Lusk's  creek, 
and  some  smaller  streams,  give  it  the  character  of  a  well 
watered  county.  It  is  generally  well  timbered  with  the 
varieties  that  abound  on  that  side  of  the  state;  the  sur- 
face is  tolerably  level;  the  soil  of  a  good  quality,  but 
rather  sandy. 

Corn,  beef,  pork,  oats,  potatoes,  horses,  etc.  are  ar- 
ticles of  exportation  in  considerable  quantities. 

Pope  county  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, and,  with  Johnson,  one  to  the  senate.  It 
belongs  to  the  third  judicial  circuit. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Golconda. 

PUTNAM  COUNTY. 

Putnam  County  was  formed  from  Pike  county  in  1825, 
but  not  organized  for  judicial  purposes  till  1831,  when 
the  boundaries  were  altered. 

It  is  now  situated  on  both  sides  of  the  Illinois  river, 
and  is  bounded  north,  by  the  attached  portion  of  Jo  Da- 
viess  county;  east,  by  La  Sa.lle;  south,  by  Tazewell  and 
Peoria;  and  west,  by  Henry  and  a  portion  of  Knox 
counties. 


154  A    GAZETTEER 

It  is  thirty-six  miles  long,  and  thirty-six  miles  broad, 
besides  a  fractional  portion  in  its  south  eastern  part, 
— and  contains  about  1,840  square  miles. 

The  Illinois  river  enters  this  county  on  its  eastern 
border,  makes  a  large  bend  and  passes  out  at  its  south- 
ern side.  The  Brerean,  Crow,  and  some  smaller  streams 
enter  the  Illinois  within  this  county,  and  Spoon  river 
waters  its  western  border. 

Some  of  the  finest  lands  in  the  state  are  in  this  coun- 
ty; beautiful  groves  of  timber,  and  rich,  undulating,  and 
dry  prairies. 

There  are  a  number  of  large  settlements  of  industri- 
ous and  thrifty  farmers,  amongst  which    are    Burcan 
Grove,  Ox  Bow  Prairie,  Knox's  settlement,  Spoon  river, 
settlement,  and  Strawn's  settlement.    Population  about 
1,500. 

There  are  many  fine  springs  in  the  county,  and  excel- 
lent mill  seats  on  the  streams. 

Besides  oaks  of  several  species,  there  are  most  of  the 
varieties  of  timber  common  to  the  state,  as  black  and 
white  walnut,  sugar  maple,  blue,  white,  and  hoop  ash, 
elm,  cherry,  aspen,  iron  wood,  buckeye,  linden,  locust, 
mulberry,  etc. 

Lime  stone,  sand  stone,  free  stone,  and  bituminous 
coal,  are  its  principal  mineral  productions,  and  in  suf- 
ficient quantities. 

Produce  will  be  sent  down  the  Illinois  river  in  steam 
boats  from  Hennepin. 

A  few  tracts  of  prairie  in  this  county  are  level  and 
wet,  and  there  are  some  small  ponds  and  swamps  in  the 
northern  part. 


OF   ILLINOIS.  155 

In  this  county  are  two  Presbyterian,  one  congrega- 
tional, and  three  or  four  Methodist  societies,  a  county 
Bible  society  that  has  twice  supplied  all  the  destitute 
with  Bibles,  a  temperance  society,  a  county  Sunday 
School  Union,  ten  Sunday  schools,  a  county  lyceum,and 
several  other  philanthropic  societies. 

Putnam  county  belongs  to  the  fifth  judicial  circuit., 
and  with  Peoria,  Jo  Daviess,  La  Salle,and  Cook,  seeds. 
one  representative  to  the  legislature. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Hennepin. 

RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 

Randolph  County  was  formed  before  the  organization 
of  the  territory  of  Illinois, and  is  the  oldest  county,  ex- 
cept St.  Clair,  in  the  state. 

It  is  bounded  north,  by  Monroe,  St.  Glair,  and  Wash- 
ington counties;  east,  by  Perry;  south,  by  the  Mississip- 
pi river  and  a  corner  of  Jackson  county;  and  west,  by 
the  Mississippi. 

Its  medium  length  and  breadth  is  about  twenty-four 
miles;  though  from  curvatures  of  the  Mississippi,  it  con- 
tains but  about  540  square  miles. 

It  is  watered  by  the  Kaskaskia  river,  and  St.  Mary, 
Horse,  and  some  smaller  creeks.  The  soil  is  of  various 
kinds;  from  first  rate  to  indifferent,  and  has  a  diversity 
of  surface,  from  the  low  alluvion,  and  the  undulating 
prairie,  to  the  rugged  bluffs  and  abrupt  precipices. 

Randolph  county  belongs  to  the  second  judicial  cir- 
cuit, and  with  Perry  sends  two  members  to  the  house  of 
representatives  and  one  to  the  senate. 

County  seat,  Kaskaskia. 


6  A   GAZETTEER 

ROCK    ISLAND. 

Rock  Island  is  a  small  irregularly  shaped  county,  form- 
ed from  portions  of  Mercer  and  Jo  Daviess  counties,  in 
1831,  but  subsequently  organized  by  the  judge  of  the 
fifth  judicial  circuit.  The  boundaries  of  this  county,  as 
defined  by  law,  begin  "  at  the  middle  of  the  main  chan- 
nel of  the  Mississippi,  where  the  north  line  of  township 
fifteen  north  intersects  the  same;  thence  east,  to  the 
fourth  principal  meridian;  thence  north,  with  said  me- 
ridian, to  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  Rock  river; 
thence  up  said  channel  to  the  confluence  of  the  Marais 
d'Ogee  slough  or  creek;  thence  along  said  slough  to 
the  middlo.  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  down  that  chan- 
nel to  the  place  of  beginning." 

Rock  river,  and  some  minor  streams,  water  this  coun- 
ty. Rock  Island,  in  the  Mississippi,  is  included  in  this 
county.  The  soil  along  the  Mississippi  for  twenty-five 
miles  is  alluvion,  sandy,  and  rich,  including  the  site  of 
the  old  Sauk  village.  There  is  much  good  land  in  the 
interior  of  the  county,  between  the  rivers,  with  some 
bluffs,  knobs,  ravines,  and  sink  holes.  South  of  Rock 
river,  a  portion  of  the  county  is  rather  inferior,  with 
some  wet  prairie  and  swamps. 

This  county  elects  a  senator  and  representative  in 
conjunction  with  Jo  Daviess. 

The  county  seat  is  not  permanently  located. 

SANGAMON  COUNTY. 

Sangamon  County  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  flour- 
ishing, and  is  the  most  populous  county  in  the  state.  It 


OF    ILLINOIS.  157 

is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Tazewell;  east,  by  Macon; 
south,  by  Montgomery  and  Macoupen;  and  west,  by 
Morgan  county.  The  north  western  corner  runs  down 
between  the  Sangamon  river,  which  separates  it  from 
Morgan  county,  and  Tazewell  county,  to  the  Illinois 
river. 

It  is  forty-eight  miles  long,  besides  the  corner  men- 
tioned, and  forty-five  miles  wide, — containing,  in  the 
whole,  an  area  of  about  1,270  square  miles. 

Sangamon  county  is  watered  by  the  Sangamon  river 
and  its  numerous  branches.  Those  which  take  their 
rise  within  the  limits  of  the  county  are  Clary's,  Rock, 
Richland,  Prairie,  Spring,  Lick,  Sugar,  Horse,  and 
Brush  creeks,  on  the  south  side,  proceeding  upward  in. 
the  arrangement;  and  Crane,  Indian,  Cantrill's,  Fancy, 
Wolf,  and  Clear  creeks,  which  enter  from  the  opposite 
side.  Those  branches  which  rise  without  the  county, 
and  yet  run  considerable  distance  within  it,  are  salt 
creek  and  branches,  North  Fork,  and  South  Fork. 
These  streams  not  only  furnish  this  county  with  an 
abundance  of  excellent  water,  and  a  number  of  good 
mill  seats,  but  are  lined  with  extensive  tracts  of  first 
rate  timbered  land. 

Here  are  oaks  of  various  species,  walnut,  sugar  maple, 
elm,  linden,  hickory,  ash,  hackberry,  honey  locust,  mul- 
berry, sycamore,  cotton  wood,  sassafras,  etc.  together 
with  the  various  shrubs,  common  to  the  country. 

The  size  of  the  prairies  in  Sangamon  county  is  seized 
upon  as  an  objection,  by  persons  who  are  not  accustom- 
ed to  a  prairie  country.  But  were  the  timber  a  little 
more  equally  distributed  with  prairie  surface,  its  sup- 


158  A   GAZETTEER 

ply  would  be  abundant.  The  prairies  vary  in  width, 
from  one  to  eight  or  ten  miles,  and  somewhat  indefinite 
in  length,  being  connected  at  the  heads  of  the  streams. 

Much  of  the  soil  in  this  county  is  of  the  richest  qua- 
lity, being  an  argillaceous  loam,  from  one  to  three  feet 
deep,  intermixed  with  fine  sand.  The  point  of  land  that 
lies  between  the  Sangamon  and  the  Illinois  rivers,  which 
is  chiefly  prairie,  is  divided  betwixt  inundated  land,  dry 
prairie,  and  sand  ridges.  A  stranger  to  observations 
upon  the  surface  of  Illinois,  upon  first  sight,  v.'ould  pro- 
aounce  most  parts  of  Sangamon  county  a  level  or  plane. 
It  is  not  so.  With  the  exception  of  the  creek  bottoms 
and  the  interior  of  large  prairies,  it  has  an  undulating1 
surface,  quite  sufficient  to  render  it  one  of  the  finest 
agricultural  districts  in  the  United  States.  These  re- 
marks areMiot  meant  exclusively  for  Sangamon.  They 
apply  with  equal  propriety  to  many  other  counties  on 
both  sides  of  the  Illinois  river.  What  has  been  hereto- 
fore known  to  persons  abroad  as  the  Sangamon  country, 
may  now  be  included  in  a  large  district,  containing  a. 
number  of  large  and  populous  counties. 

The  first  settlement  on  the  waters  of  the  Sangamon, 
made  by  white  people  for  a  permanent  abode,  was  in 
1819;  the  county  was  organized  in  1821,  and  then  em- 
braced a  tract  of  country  125  miles  fang,  and  seventy- 
five  broad.  > 

The  public  lands  were  first  offered  for  sale  in  Novem- 
ber, 1823,  by  which  time,  however,  farms  of  considerable 
ble  size,  even  to  100  acres  of  cultivated  land  had  beeu 
made. 

At  the  present  time,  the  borders  of  the  prairies  are 


or  ILLINOIS.  159 

covered  with  hundreds  of  smiling  farms,  and  the  interior 
animated  with  thousands  of  domestic  animals.  The 
rough  and  unseemly  cabin  is  giving  place  to  comfortable 
framed  or  brick  tenements,  and  plenty  every  where 
smiles  upon  the  labors  of  the  husbandman. 

This  county  is  in  the  geographical  centre  of  the  state, 
and  will  eventually  be  in  the  centre  of  population. 

Its  river  market  and  deposit  is  Beardstown;  but  much 
of  its  imports  will  be  received  and  its  exports  sent  off 
by  its  own  river,  which  has  aready  been  navigated  by 
steam  to  the  vicinity  of  Springfield,  and  when  some  of 
its  obstructions  are  removed,  will  afford  convenient  na- 
vigation for  steam  boats  of  the  smaller  class.  Its  ex- 
ports now  are  beef  cattle,  pork,  wheat,  flour,  corn  meal, 
butter,  cheese,  etc.  and  soon  will  include  almost  every 
article  of  a  rich,  agricultural  country. 

Sangamon  county  belongs  to  the  first  judicial  district, 
sends  four  members  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and 
two  members  to  the  senate. 

Its  population  at  the  last  census,  was  1^,793;  its  num- 
ber now  would  exceed  25,000. 

Villages  and  towns  are  springing'  tip,  some  of  which 
may  become  places  of  note,   as  Athens,  New  Salei»7 
Richland,  Salisbury,  Greenfield  >  Rochester,  etc. 
The  seat  of  justice  is 


SCHUYLER  COUNTY. 

Schuyler  County  was  formed  from  Pike  county,  in  18!<J5j 
and  lies  on  the  Illinois  river,  opposite  Morgan  county. 
It  is  bounded  north,  by  McDonough,  and  a  corner  of 
Fulton;  east,  by  Fulton,  and  the  Illinois  river;  south, 


160  A    GAZETTEER 

by  the  Illinois  river,  and  Pike;  and  west,  by  Adams  and 
a  corner  of  Hancock. 

The  south  eastern  side  is  washed  by  the  Illinois,  the 
interior  is  watered  by  Crooked  and  Crane  creeks,  the 
south  western  by  McKee's  creek,  and  the  north  eastern 
part  by  Sugar  creek.  «' 

Schuyler  county  is  of  an  irregular  shape,  thirty  miles 
long,  and  from  eighteen  to  thirty  broad, — containing 
about  864  square  miles. 

Along  the  Illinois  river  is  considerable  land  inunda- 
led  at  high  floods,  generally  heavily  timbered,  as  is  more 
than  one  half  of  the  county.  The  middle  and  northern 
portions  are  divided  into  timber  and  prairie  of  an  ex- 
celleat  quality.  Along  Crooked  creek  is  an  extensive 
body  of  fine  timber.  Sugar  creek  also  furnishes  another 
body  of  timber  eight  or  ten  miles  wide. 

Schuyi^r  county  is  attached  to  the  fifth  judicial  cir- 
cuit, and  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, and  unites  with  Fulton,  Knox,  Henry,  Calhoun, 
Mercer,  McDoaough,  and  Warren,  in  electing  one  mem- 
ber to  the  senatt. 

Rushmlle  is  the  county  seat. 

SHlLBY  COUNTY. 

Shelby  County  was  forced  from  Fayette,  in  1827,  and 
is  bounded  on  the  north,  b)  Macon;  east,  by  Coles;  south, 
by  Effingham  and  Fayette,  and  west,  by  Montgomery, 
and  a  corner  of  Sangamon. 

It  is  thirty-six  miles  long  and  thirty  broad, — area, 
1,080  square  miles. 

It  is  watered  by  the  Kaskaskia  and  tributaries. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  161 

Shelby  county  contains  a  large  amount  of  excellent 
land,  both  timber  and  prairie,  and  is  one  of  the  best  in- 
land agricultural  counties  in  the  state. 

Shelby  and  Macon  united,  send  one  member  to  the 
house  of  representatives,  and  one  to  the  senate.  It 
belongs  to  the  second  judicial  circuit.  The  population 
is  about  3,500. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Shelbyville, 

ST.  CLAIR    COUNTY. 

St.  Clair  County  is  the  oldest  county  in  the  state,  and 
was  formed  by  the  legislature  of  the  North  Western  ter- 
ritory in  1794  or  '95,  and  then  included  all  the  settle- 
ments on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Mississippi.  It  now 
lies  on  that  river  opposite  St.  Louis,  and  is  bounded 
north,  by  Madison  county;  east,  by  Clinton  and  Wash- 
ington; and  south,  by  Randolph  and  Monroe  counties: 
— containing  1,030  square  miles. 

The  land  is  various,  much  of  which  is  good  first  and 
second  rate  soil,  and  is  proportionably  divided  into  tim- 
ber, prairie,  and  barrens.  The  prairies  are  distinguish- 
ed as  Looking  Glass,  Twelve  Mile,  Ogle's,  Ridge,  Bot- 
tom, and  du  Pont  prairies. 

The  streams  are  Cahokia,  Prairie  du  Pont,  Ogle's 
creek,  Silver  creek,  Richland  creek,  Prairie  de  Long, 
and  the  Kaskaskia  river. 

Its  timber  comprises.the  varieties  found  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  state. 

The  exports  are  beef,  park,  flour,  and  all  the  varieties 
in  the  St.  Louis  market. 

Extensive  coal  banks  exist  in  this  county,  along  the 
11 


162  A   GAZETTEER 

bluffs,  from  which  St.  Louis  is  partially  supplied  with 
fuel.  The  quantity  hauled  there  in  waggons,  in  1833, 
amounted  to  about  150,000  bushels. 

There  are  five  steam  mills  in  this  county,  besides  a 
number  propelled  by  water  and  animal  power.  Belle- 
ville and  Lebanon  are  its  principal  towns.  Cahokia  and 
Illinois  are  small  villages.  The  people  of  this  county 
are  a  mixture  of  Americans,  French,  and  Germans, 
about  9,500  in  number. 

St.  Glair  county  belongs  to  the  second  judicial  cir- 
cuit, and  sends  one  senator  and  two  representatives  to 
the  legislature. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Belleville. 

TAZEWELL    COUNTY. 

Tazewell  County  was  formed  from  Peoria  county,  in 
1827.  It  is  bounded  north,  by  Putnam;  east,  by  McLean; 
south,  by  Sangamon;  and  has  the  Illinois  river  along 
its  north  western  border,  which  gives  it  a  triangular 
form. 

Its  extreme  length  is  forty-eight  miles,  and  its  ex- 
treme width  forty-two  miles, — containing  about  1,130 
square  miles. 

It  is  watered  by  the  Illinois  river,  which  extends  the 
whole  length  of  its  northwestern  side,  Mackinaw,  and 
its  branches,  Ten  Mile,  Farm,  and  Blue  creeks,  all 
which  enter  the  Illinois,  with  some  of  the  head  branch- 
es of  the  Sangamon. 

A  strip  of  this  county,  consisting  mostly  of  sandy 
prairies, puts  down  the  Illinois  river,  and  between  that 
and  Sangamon  county.  On  the  bluffs  of  Mackinaw  and 


OF    ILLINOIS.  163 

the  other  streams,  the  land  is  broken,  and  the  timber 
chiefly  oak;  in  other  portions  of  the  county  it  has  an  un- 
dulating appearance  and  has  much  good  land. 

Below  Pekin,  and  towards  Havanna,  are  swamps, 
ponds,  and  sand  ridges.  The  south  eastern  portion  of 
the  county  is  watered  by  Sugar  creek  and  its  branches. 

This  will  soon  be  a  rich  agricultural  county.  Pleas- 
ant Grove  and  the  adjacent  country,  is  delightful. 

Tazewell  county  belongs  to  the  first  judicial  circuit, 
and  is  connected  with  McLean  county  in  sending  one 
senator  and  one  representative  to  the  legislature. 

The  county  seat  is  Pekin. 

UNION    COUNTY. 

Union  county  was  formed  from  Johnson  county,  in  1818, 
and  is  bounded  north,  by  Jackson;  east,  by  Franklin; 
south,  by  Alexander;  and  west,  by  the  Mississippi  river. 

It  is  twenty-four  miles  long,  and  from  twenty  to 
twenty-six  miles  broad,  containing  about  396  square 
miles,  and  is  watered  by  Clear  creek,  some  of  the  south 
branches  of  Big  Muddy,  and  the  heads  of  Cash  river. 
A  large  bend  of  the  Big  Muddy  projects  a  few  miles  into 
the  county  towards  its  north  western  portion,  and 
some  sloughs  and  ponds  are  found  on  the  Mississippi  bot- 
tom. Much  of  this  county  is  high,  rolling,  timbered 
land.  Here  are  found  oaks  of  various  kinds,  hickory, 
white  and  black  walnut,  poplar,  some  beech,  and  other 
species  of  timber  common  to  the  country.  There  is 
considerable  German  population  in  this  county. 

Union  county  belongs  to  the  third  judicial  circuit,  and 


164  A    GAZETTEER 

sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and, 
with  Alexander,  one  to  the  senate. 

The  exports  from  this  county  are  corn,  beef,  pork, 
horses,  etc.  Large  quantities  of  produce  from  this 
county  go  down  the  river  to  New  Orleans  in  flat  boats. 

The  county  seat  is  Jonesboro"1 

VERMILION   COUNTY. 

Vermilion  County  was  formed  from  Edgar,  in  1826,  and 
lies  north  of  Edgar  and  Coles,  east  of  Champaign,  south 
of  Iroquois,  and  west  of  the  state  of  Indiana. 

It  is  thirty-six  miles  long  and  twenty-eight  miles 
wide, — containing  about  1,000  square  miles. 

Vermilion  county  is  watered  by  the  Big  and  Little 
Vermilion  rivers,  and  tributaries,  and  contains  large 
bodies  of  excellent  land.  In  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county  the  timber  predominates,  amongst  which  is  the 
poplar  and  beech.  Along  the  streams  are  oaks  of  va- 
rious species,  hickory,  walnut,  linden,  hackberry,  ash, 
elm,  and  various  other  kinds  common  to  Illinois.  The 
soil  of  the  prairies  is  an  argillaceous  loam,  from  one  to 
three  feet  deep.  Their  surface  is  generally  dry  and 
undulating.  N 

The  exports  are  pork,  beef,  corn,  salt,  etc.  which  find 
a  convenient  market  at  the  towns  on  the  Wabash,  and 
down  that  river  to  New  Orleans.  In  due  time  much 
of  the  produce  of  the  Vermilion  country  will  pass  by  the 
way  of  Chicago  and  the  lakes;  and  up  the  Wabash,  and 
through  a  canal  to  Lake  Erie.  It  would  be  no  difficult 
matter  to  open  a  water  communication  between  the 
and  Illinois  rivers,  and  thus  furnish  an  outlet 


OF    ILLINOIS.  lb'3 

for  the  productions  of  this  part  of  the  state  in  every  di- 
rection. 

At  the  census  of  1830,  Vermilion  county  contained 
6,389  inhabitants.  The  annual  increase  has  not  been 
less  than  thirty  per  cent.  It  is  attached  to  the  fourth 
judicial  circuit,  and  sends  two  members  to  the  house  of 
representatives,  and  one  to  the  senate. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Danville. 

WABASH  COUNTY. 

Wabash  County  was  formed  from  Edwards  county,  in 
1824,  and  is  bounded  north,  by  Lawrence;  east,  by  the 
Wabash  river;  south,  it  terminates  in  a  point  between 
the  Bon  Pas  which  divides  it  from  Edwards  county,  and 
Wabash  river;  and  west,  by  Edwards  county. 

This  is  the  smallest  county  in  the  state,  being  eigh- 
teen miles  long,  and  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  broad, 
with  the  eastern  side  irregularly  curvated  by  the  Wa- 
bash river.  It  has  about  180  square  miles. 

Wabash  county  is  watered  by  the  Wabash  river  on  its 
eastern,  and  Bon  Pas  creek  on  its  western  border,  and 
Crawfish,  Jordan,  and  Coffee  creeks,  from  its  interior. 

It  contains  considerable  good  land,  both  timber  and 
prairie,  and  a  full  proportion  of  industrious  and  thriving 
farmers.  This  county  sends  one  member  to  the  house 
of  representatives,  and,  with  Edwards  and  Wayne,  one 
to  the  senate.  It  belongs  to  the  fourth  judicial  cir- 
cuit. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Mount  Carmel. 


166  A    GAZETTEER 

WARREN    COUNTS. 

Warren  County  was  formed  from  Pike  county,  in  1825V 
but  not  organized  till  1830.  It  contains  extensive  tracts 
of  first  rate  land,  and  several  fine  settlements.  It  lies 
on  the  Mississippi,  north  of  Hancock  and  McDonough, 
west  of  Knox,  and  south  of  Mercer. 

Its  prominent  stream  is  Henderson  river  and  branches: 
Ellison,  Honey,  and  Camp  creeks  are  in  Warren.  The 
land  on  these  streams  is  generally  a  little  undulating, 
rich,  and  where  timber  exists,  it  is  excellent.  A  num- 
ber of  good  mill  seats  exist. 

Much  of  the  bottom/  in  this  county  that  lies  on  the 
river  is  low,  subject  to  inundation,  and  has  a  series  of 
sand  ridges  back  of  it,  with  bold  and  pointed  bluffs  fur- 
ther in  the  rear. 

North  of  Henderson  river  is  an  extensive  prairie, 
which  divides  it  from  Pope,  and  Edwards  river. 

Warren  county  is  about  thirty  miles  in  extent,  and 
contains  about  900  square  miles.  It  belongs  to  the  fifth 
judicial  circuit,  and  is  connected  with  Calhoun,  McDo- 
nough,  and  Mercer,  in  electing  a  representative;  and- 
with  Schuyler,  Fulton,  Knox,  Henry,  Calhoun,  McDo- 
nough,  and  Mercer,  in  electing  a  senator. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Monmouth. 

WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

Washington  County  was  formed  from  St.  Clair,  in  Ja- 
nuary, 1818,  and  is  bounded  north,  by  Clinton;  east,  by 
Jefferson;  south,  by  Perry,  and  a  corner  of  Randolph; 
and  west,  by  St.  Clair.  It  is  thirty  miles  long  and  from 


OF    ILLINOIS.  167 

fifteen  to  twenty  miles  broad, — containing  about  656 
square  miles. 

The  Kaskaskia  river  runs  along  the  north  western  side 
for  eighteen  miles,  Elkhorn  creek  waters  its  western, 
Beaucoup,  and  Little  Muddy  its  south  eastern,  and 
Crooked  creek,  and  some  smaller  streams,  its  northern 
portions.  Considerable  prairie,  especially  the  southern 
points  of  tte  Grand  prairie,  is  found  in  this  county,  some 
of  which  is  rather  level  and  wet,  and  of  an  inferior  qua- 
lity. A  large  body  of  timber  lines  the  banks  of  the 
Kaskaskia  river. 

The  produce  of  this  county  is  pork,  beef  cattle,  and 
other  articles  common  to  the  adjacent  parts.  The  tim- 
ber is  otk  of  various  kinds,  hickory,  elm,  ash,  and  the 
timber  common  to  the  Kaskaskia  river. 

Wasiington  county  is  attached  to  the  second  judicial 
circuit,  and  unites  with  Franklin  in  sending  two  mem- 
bers ti>  the  house  of  representatives,  and  also  with  Jack- 
son in  sending  one  to  the  senate. 

The  county  seat  is  Nashville. 

WAYNE    COUNTY. 

Wayne  County  was  formed  from  Edwards,  in  1819, and 
is  situated  in  the  south  eastern  part  of  the  state,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north,  by  Clay;  east,  by  Edwards;  south, 
by  Hamilton,  and  a  corner  of  White;  and  west,  by  Jeffer- 
son and  Marion. 

It  is  twenty  four  miles  square,  and  contains  576  square 
miles. 

The  Little  Wabash  passes  through  its  eastern  part, 
and  Elm  river  and  Skillet  fork  water  the  other  por- 


168  A    GAZETTEER 

tions  of  the  county.  It  is  proportionally  interspersed 
with  prairie  and  woodland,  generally  of  a  second  quali- 
ty. The  productions  of  this  county  for  exportation  are 
beef,  pork,  cattle,  and  some  peltry,  which  are  sent  down 
the  Little  Wabash  in  flat  boats  to  New  Orleans,  or  find 
a  market  over  land  to  Shawneetown. 

Wayne  county  belongs  to  the  ,fourth  judicial  circuit, 
and  sends  one  member  to  the  house  of  representatives, 
and  with  Edwards  and  Wabash,  one  member  to  the 
senate. 

County  seat,  Fairfield. 

WHITE    COUNTY. 

White  County  was  organized  from  Gallatin  county,  in 
1815.  It  is  situated  in  the  south  eastern  side  of  the 
state.  Its  form  is  nearly  square,  about  twenty-two 
miles  in  extent, — containing  an  area  of  neatly  480 
square  miles. 

It  is  bounded  north,  by  Wabash,  Edwards,  and 
Wayne  counties;  e^st,  by  the  big  Wabash  river;  south, 
by  Gallatin,  and  west,  by  Hamilton  counties. 

The  eastern  side  of  this  county  is  washed  by  the  big 
Wabash,  along  which  is  a  low  bottom,  subject  to  inun- 
dation; the  interior  is  watered  by  the  Little  Wabash 
and  its  tributaries.  The  banks  of  these  streams  are 
heavily  timbered,  among  which  are  oaks  of  several  spe- 
cies, hickory,  walnut,  hackberry,  elm,  ash,  and  poplar. 
Between  the  streams  are  fine  prairies  most  of  which  are 
cultivated;  the  principal  of  which  are  Big,  Burnt,  and 
Seren  Mile. 

The  exports  of  White  county  are  pork,  beef,   and 


OF    ILLINOIS.  169 

beef  cattle,  corn,  flour,  venison  hams,  horses,  and  some 
tobacco.  Horses  and  cattle  are  sent  in  droves  to  the 
south,  and  produce  descends  the  river  to  New  Orleans 
from  this  and  the  adjacent  counties,  in  large  quantities. 

There  are  three  water  mills  in  this  county  for  flour- 
ing and  sawing,  which  do  good  business. 

White  county  is  attached  to  the  fourth  judicial  circuit, 
has  a  population  of  between  six  and  seven  thousand  in- 
habitants, and  sends  two  members  to  the  house  of  re- 
presentatives, and  one  to  the  senate. 

The  seat  of  justice  is  Carmi. 


PART  THIRD. 


CONTAINING  A  PARTICULAR   DESCRIPTION 

OF  EACH  TOWN,  SETTLEMENT,  STREAM,  PRAIRIE, 
BOTTOM,  BLUFF,  &c. 

ALPHABETICALLY    ARRANGED. 


Abbakishee  Grove,  in  LaSalle  county,  lies  three  miles 
north  of  Holderman's  grove. 

Adams's  Ferry  is  on  the  Illinois  river,  in  La  Salle 
county,  near  the  mouth  of  Little  Vermilion. 

Adams's  Fork,  a  branch  of  the  Skillet  fork  of  the  Lit- 
tle Wabash.  It  rises  in  the  prairies  of  Marion  county, 
passes  south  east,  across  the  corner  of  Jefferson,  and  en- 
ters the  Skillet  fork  in  Wayne.  The  land  is  well  tim- 
bered and  of  a  good  quality. 

Alabama  Settlement,  in  the  north  eastern  part  of  Union 
county,  of  about  thirty  families.  The  timber,  chiefly 
whiteoak,  with  a  thin  soil. 

ALBION,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Edwards  county,  situa- 
ted on  section  two,  of  township  two  south,  in  range  ten, 
east  of  the  third  principal  meridian.  It  was  laid  out  by 
Messrs.  Birbeck  and  Flowers,  in  1819,  and  settled  prin- 
cipally by  English  emigrants.  The  situation  is  high  and 


172  A    GAZETTEER 

healthy.  It  contains  three  stores,  three  houses  of  en- 
tertainment, an  ox  flouring  mill,  a  cotton  gin,  and  thir- 
y  or  forty  families.  The  court  house  is  of  brick,  forty- 
four  feet  square,  two  stories,  and  finished.  Albion  is 
forty  miles  south  west  of  Vincennes. 

Allen's  Prairie  and  Settlement,  in  Greene  county, 
twelve  miles  north  easterly  from  Carrollton.  The  land 
is  good,  the  prairie  large,  with  good  timber  on  the  water 
courses. 

Allenton,  a  town  site  and  ferry,  at  the  head  of  Peoria 
lake,  eighteen  miles  above  Peoria,  on  section  twenty- 
nine,  eleven  north,  nine  east,  and  on  the  east  side  of 
La  Salle  prairie. 

Allison's  Prairie,  (sometimes  improperly  spelt  Ellison] 
in  Lawrence  county,  five  miles  northeast  from  Law  - 
renceville.  It  is  ten  miles  long,  and  five  broad.  The 
eastern  part,  towards  the  Wabash,  contains  some  wet 
land  and  purgatory  swamps,  but  the  principal  part  is  a 
dry,  sandy,  and  very  rich  soil,  covered  with  well  culti- 
vated farms.  Few  tracts  in  Illinois  are  better  adapted 
to  corn  than  this.  The  population  equals  200  families. 
This  prairie  was  settled  in  1816  and  '17,  by  emigrants 
from  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  and  mostly  of  the  religious 
sect  known  in  the  west  by  the  name  of  Christians,  and 
the  settlement  is  sometimes  called  by  that  name.  In  a 
few  years  death  had  thinned  their  numbers.  The  pur- 
gatory swamps,  as  they  are  called,  around  the  prairie, 
had  a  deleterious  influence,  and  retarded  the  progress 
<3f  population.  In  later  years  but  little  sickness  has 
existed,  and  this  settlement  furnishes  one  of  many  evi- 
dences that  upon  the  subjugation  of  the  luxuriant  ve- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  173 

gelation  with  which  our  rich  prairies  are  clothed,  and 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  sickly  places  will  he  changed 
to  healthy  ones. 

Alton  (Lower]  an  incorporated  town  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mississippi,  is  thought  by  many  to  possess  advantages 
for  commerce  superior  to  any  in  the  state.  It  is  situa- 
ted on  fractional  sections  thirteen  and  fourteen,  in 
township  five  north,  in  range  ten  west  of  the  third 
principal  meridian. 

It  is  two  and  a  half  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
souri, and  at  the  place  where  the  curve  of  the  Mississip- 
pi penetrates  the  furthest  into  Illinois,  eighteen  miles 
below  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  at  the  point 
where  the  commerce  and  business  of  the  wide  spread  re- 
gions of  the  north  east,  north,  and  north  west  must  ar- 
rive. 

The  legislature  of  Illinois  have  memorialized  congress 
repeatedly  to  have  the  great  national  road,  now  con- 
structing through  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  cross  the 
Mississippi  at  this  place,  and  sanguine  hopes  are  enter- 
tained that  the  rights  of  Illinois  in  this  particular  will 
be  duly  regarded. 

Lower  Alton  has  the  best  landing  for  steamboats  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  having  a  rock  of  level 
surface,  of  suitable  height,  forming  a  natural  wharf. 
The  state  penitentiary  has  been  established  here,  and 
many  are  sanguine  that  it  will  be  the  future  seat  of  go- 
vernment. 

One  of  the  finest  bodies  of  timber  in  the  state  sur- 
rounds it  for  several  miles  in  extent,  from  which  vast 
quantities  of  lumber  may  be  produced.  Bituminous  coal 


174  A  GAZETTEER 

exists  in  great  abundance  but  a  short  distance  from 
the  town.  Inexhaustible  beds  of  limestone  for  build- 
ing purposes,  and  easily  quarried,  are  within  its  pre- 
cincts. A  species  of  free  stone,  easily  dressed  and  used 
for  monuments  and  architectural  purposes,  and  that  pe- 
culiar species  of  lime,  used  for  water  cement,  are  found 
in  great  abundance  in  the  vicinity. 

The  corporate  bounds  extend  two  miles  along  the 
river,  and  half  a  mile  back.  The  town  plat  is  laid  out 
by  the  proprietors  upon  a  liberal  scale. 

There  are  five  squares  reserved  for  public  -purposes, 
a  large  reservation  is  made  on  the  river  for  a  public 
landiugand  promenade.  Market  street  is  150feet  wide, 
other  streets  are  one  hundred,  eighty,  and  sixty  feet, 
according  to  the  situation  and  public  accommodation. 

Lower  Alton  now  contains  [July,  1834]  sixteen  stores, 
several  of  which  do  large  wholesale  business,'  two  pub- 
lic houses,  and  several  private  boarding  houses,  mecha- 
nics of  various  kinds,  an  extensive  steam  flouring  mill, 
with  four  run  of  stones,  owned  by  an  incorporated  com- 
pany, and  which  cost  $25,000;  a  steam  saw  mill  in  ope- 
ration, and  another  projected;  a  boat  yard  contemplated 
rmd  a  dock  for  the  repair  of  steamboats,  and  about  one 
thousand  inhabitants.  There  is  also  a  printing  office 
which  -publishes  weekly  the  '•'•Alton  Spectator;"  a  post 
office;  two  lawyers,  three  physicians,  one  settled  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel,  and  preaching  by  Presbyterians,  Epis- 
copal Methodists,  Protestant  Methodists,  and  Baptists, 
each  of  which  have  churches  organized. 

The  public  buildings  are  the  Penitentiary.  It  has  the 
warden's  house,  guard  house,  twenty-four  cells,  and  a 


OF    ILLINOIS*  175 

portion  of  the  wall  erected,  and  the  other  parts  of  the 
work  are  in  progress.  A  large  stone  meeting  house  with 
a  handsome  spire,  has  been  erected,  and  will  soon  be 
finished  for  the  Presbyterian  church;  the  Protestant 
Methodists  have  erected  a  small  but  neat  stone  chapel; 
and  the  Baptist  church  have  just  commenced  building  a 
convenient  house  of  worship.  A  week  day  school,  un- 
der good  regulation,  and  a  large  Sabbath  school  are 
taught  here. 

Landed  property,  in  and  near  the  town  has  risen  in 
value  two  and  three  hundred  per  cent,  within  three 
years.  Eligible  lots  have  been  recently  sold  for  several 
hundred  dollars,  and  lots  on  the  bluffs  back  have  ex- 
ceeded one  hundred  dollars. 

The  facilities  for  business  of  various  kinds  will  draw 
men  of  capital  and  enterprise  to  this  place.  The  build- 
ing and  repair  of  steamboats  may  be  made  an  extensive 
business;  and  no  place  on  the  western  waters  offers 
equal  advantages.  With  this  object  in  view,  a  foundry 
for  casting  and  making  all  kinds  of  machinery  is  con- 
templated. Large  quantities  of  provisions  will  be  pack- 
ed here,  and  business  of  every  description  must  increase 
to  an  indefinite  extent. 

Notwithstanding,  Lower  Alton  has  its  disadvantages. 
These,  in  impartial  justice,  I  have  no  wish  to  conceal. 
The  uneven,  abrupt,  and  hilly  surface  of  a  portion  of  the 
town  site, — the  confined  and  low  situation  of  another 
portion,  which  will  prevent  the  circulation  of  a  pure  and 
healthy  atmosphere, — the  extensive  and  low  bottom  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  Mississippi,  that  stretches  along 
the  Missouri, — the  powerful  rival  in  trade  and  com- 


176  A    GAZETTEER 

merce  to  be  found  in  St.  Louis,  twenty-four  miles  dis- 
tant, a  place  admirably  situated,  and  of  great  business. 
— are  amongst  the  draw  backs  to  the  rapid  and  exten- 
sive growth  of  Alton,  and  make  it  quite  problematical 
whether  it  will  ever  become  the  great  commercial  em- 
porium of  the  upper  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  That  it 
will  soon  become  the  commercial  depot  for  an  extensive 
back  country,  now  rapidly  filling  up  with  enterprising- 
farmers,  and  a  place  of  extensive  business,  there  cannot 
be  a  doubt. 

We  close  this  article  with  the  following  extract  from 
Beck's  Gazetteer  of  Illinois  and  Missouri,  written  in 
1821. 

"Alton,  although  yet  small,  possesses  natural  advan- 
tages rarely  equalled.  Situated  as  it  is,  at  the  junction 
of  three  large  and  navigable  rivers;  possessing  a  fine, 
commodious  harbor,  and  landing  for  boats  at  all  seasons 
of  the  year;  surrounded  by  a  fertile  country,  rapidly  set- 
tling, it  bids  fair  to  become  a  populous,  wealthy,  and 
commercial  town." 

Note.  The  post  office  here  is  distinguished  from  that 
of  Upper  Alton  by  the  name  "Lower  Alton." 

Alton  (Upper,]  a  pleasantly  situated  town  on  elevated 
ground,  two  and  a  half  miles  back  from  the  river  and 
Lower  Alton,  on  section  seven,  township  five  north, 
nine  west.  The  situation  of  the  town  is  high  and  healthy. 
The  country  around  was  originally  timbered  land,  and 
is  undulating;  the  prevailing  growth  is  oaks  of  various 
species,  hickory,  and  walnut. 

There  are  two  stores,  one  house  of  entertainment, 
three  physicians,  various  mechanics,  amongst  which  is  3 


OF    ILLINOIS.  177 

pottery,  a  commodious  brick  school  house  for  town  pur- 
poses, a  steam  flouring  mill  now  building-,  ?io  grocery, 
or  whiskey  shop,  and  about  sixty  families.  The  Alton 
seminary  has  been  noticed,  and  its  buildings  described, 
in  Part  I.  under  the  head  of  EDUCATION. 

Upper  Alton  is  improving;  the  society  is  good,  and  it 
is  a  desirable  place  for  family  residence,  out  of  the  bustle 
of  business.  The  post  office  is  distinguished  as  "Alton." 

Upper  Alton  was  laid  off  by  the  proprietor,  in  1316, 
and  incorporated  by  the  legislature,  under  the  govern- 
ment of  trustees,  in  1821,  when  it  contained  seventy  or 
eighty  families.  In  1827,  it  had  dwindled  down  to  se- 
ven families.  It  was  reduced  from  several  causes,  but 
especially  from  several  conflicting  claims  to  the  soil, 
which  have  been  happily  terminated  by  a  decision  of  the 
court  of  chancery,  according  to  the  mutual  agreement 
of  all  the  claimants.  Hereafter  no  doubt  but  this  town 
will  experience  a  regular  and  rapid  growth.  The  Bap- 
tists, Methodists,  and  Presbyterians,  hold  worship  re- 
gularly here. 

America,  the  former  county  seat  of  Alexander  county, 
situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Ohio,  on  the  first  high 
land,  and  twelve  miles  above  its  mouth.  The  landing 
at  this  place  is  much  injured  by  a  sand  bar.  If  this 
could  be  removed,  and  a  good  harbor  provided  for  steam 
boats,  it  would  soon  become  a  place  of  considerable  im- 
portance. A  small  stream,  called  Humphrey's  creek, 
runs  through  the  town  site,  from  which  it  has  been  con- 
templated to  cut  a  canal,  at  some  future  day,  into  the 
Ohio,  and  thus  secure  a  good  harbor.  The  village  con- 
tains two  stores,  two  taverns,  and  a  dozen  families. 
12 


178  A   GAZETTEER 

Arcadia,  a  settlement  and  post  office,  in  Morgan  coun- 
ty, twelve  miles  north  westerly  from  Jacksonville.  All 
this  part  of  Morgan  county  contains  excellent  land, 
with  a  due  proportion  of  timber  and  prairie. 

Arm  of  the  Grand  Prairie,  in  Jefferson  county,  lies 
eight  miles  north  west  from  Mount  Vernon.  The  soil 
is  tolerably  good,  and  the  settlement  contains  about 
fifty  families. 

Apple  Creek,  rises  near  the  borders  of  Sangamon  coun- 
ty, runs  a  south  western  course  through  the  south  east- 
ern part  of  Morgan  into  Greene  county,  and  enters  the 
Illinois  river  in  section  thirty -six,  fractional  township 
eleven  north,  fourteen  west.  It  has  several  tributaries, 
which  are  noticed  under  their  respective  names,  and 
which  water  a  valuable  tract  of  country,  with  a  large 
population. 

It  has  a  number  of  mills  on  its  waters. 
Apple  Creek  Prairie,  in  Greene  county,  lies  north  of 
Apple  creek,  to  the  left  of  the  road  from  Carrollton  to 
Jacksonville.  It  is  ten  miles  long, and  from  two  to  four 
miles  wide,  of  good  quality,  and  spread  over  with  large 
farms,  and  populous  settlements. 

Apple  River,  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  rises  near  the 
boundary  line,  where  its  branches  interlock  with  the 
waters  of  the  Pee-ka-ton-o'kee,  runs  a  south  western 
course  about  forty-five  miles,  and  enters  the  Mississippi 
twenty  miles  below  Galena.  It  is  a  rocky  and  rapid 
stream,  with  good  mill  seats,  and  fifty  yards  wide  at 
its  mouth.  The  bottoms  are  excellent  land.  The  up- 
lands hilly  and  broken.  Large  bodies  of  timber  are  on 
its  banks.  Towards  its  heads  is  a  fine,  undulating 
country. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  179 

Ashmore's  Settlement,  in  Coles  county,  fifteen  miles 
north  of  Charleston,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  Embar- 
ras.  Timber  and  prairie  good,  and  the  population 
about  fifty  families. 

Athens,  a  village  in  Sangamon  county,  on  the  east 
side,  and  four  miles  from  the  Sangamon  river,  and  fif- 
teen miles  north  from  Springfield.  It  has  four  stores, 
one  steam  mill  for  sawing  and  flouring,  and  about  forty 
families.  It  has  the  timber  of  the  Sangamon  on  the 
west,  and  the  prairies  east,  with  a  large  settlement 
around 

This  has  been  called  Rodger's  settlement. 

Aiherton's  Settlement,  in  Alexander  county,  on  the 
eas  tside  of  Cash  river,  and  five  miles  north  west  from 
America,  containing  eighty  or  ninety  families.  The 
upland  is  tolerably  good. 

Jltlas  a  small  town  in  Pike  county  situated  on  the 
north  west  quarter  of  section  twenty^seven,  six  south, 
five  west. 

It  is  under  the  bluffs,  on  a  handsome  sloping  tract  of 
ground,  half  a  mile  from  the  Snicartee  slough,  which  is 
navigable  with  steam  boats  to  this  place,  except  in  low 
water.  Atlas  contains  two  stores,  one  grocery,  two 
physicians,  one  lawyer,  and  one  school  with  thirty  ave- 
rage scholars.  Two  miles  above,  on  the  Snicartee, 
William  Ross,  esq.  has  erected  a  large  saw  and  grist 
mill,  thirty  by  forty  feet,  four  stories,  calculated  for 
three  run  of  stones,  and  for  doing  a  large  business. 

Aubuchon,  a  passage  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Kas- 
kaskia  river,  about  four  miles  above  the  town  of  Kas- 


1 80  A    GAZETTEER 

kaskia.  At  high  water,  a  strong  current  passes  from 
one  river  to  the  other. 

Augusta  Post  Office  is  in  the  south  east  corner  of  Han- 
cock county,  in  three  north,  five  west,  on  the  road  from 
Rushville  to  Carthage. 

Au  Sable,  [Fr.  sandy — gravelly,]  a  small  stream  in  the 
eastern  part  of  La  Salle  county.  It  rises  near  the  west 
fork  of  du  Page,  runs  south  mostly  through  prairie,  and 
enters  the  Illinois  three  miles  below  the  junction  of  the 
Des  Plaines,  and  Kankakee. 

Au  Sable  Grove  is  in  the  north  eastern  part  of  La  Salle 
county,  at  the  heads  of  the  Au  Sable  creek.  Here  is  a 
fine  body  of  timber  surrounded  with  an  extensive  and 
rich  prairie. 

Badgley's  Settlement,  in  St.  Clair  county,  five  miles 
north  westerly  from  Belleville, one  of  the  oldest  Ameri- 
can settlements  in  the  county. 

Bailey's  Point,  a  branch  of  the  Vermilion,  and  a  set- 
tlement in  La  Salle  county,  fourteen  miles  south  west 
from  Ottawa.  Here  is  asmall  tract  of  excellent  timber, 
surrounded  with  the  choicest  prairie.  The  settlement 
contains  about  twenty  families. 

Bankstone's  Fork,  in  Gallatin  county,  rises  in  the  in- 
terior, runs  a  south  eastern  course,  and  enters  the  South 
Fork  of  Saline  creek,  fourteen  miles  above  Equality. 

It  has  a  fine  country  on  its  borders,  and  a  large  set- 
tlement. 

Banting11 s  Settlement,  in  Shelby  county,  near  the  Kas- 
kaskia  river,  twelve  miles  south  of  Shelbyville.  The 
land  is  good,  and  plenty  of  timber  and  prairie. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  181 

The  bottom  on  the  opposite  site  of  the  river  is  over- 
flowed in  high  water. 

Barney's  Prairie,  in  Wabash  county,  seven  miles  north 
of  Mount  Carmel,  is  a  good  tract  of  land  well  cultivated. 

Barbee's  Settlement,  seven  miles  northwest  of  Pales- 
tine, in  Crawford  county,  with  timber  and  prairie. 

Bartlett's  Settlement,  in  the  south  western  part  of  Mc- 
Donough  county,  on  Crooked  creek,  fifteen  miles  from 
Macomb.  The  land  is  good,  and  the  settlement  exten- 
sive. 

Bay  Creek  rises  in  the  prairies  towards  the  eastern 
part  of  Pike  county,  and  running  westward,  enters  Cal- 
houn  county,  and  forms  a  kind  of  bay  at  its  mouth,  which 
is  navigable  for  some  miles. 

The  land  on  its  borders  is  generally  good,  except 
about  the  bluffs,  where  it  is  broken. 

Beardstown,  is  situated  on  the  Illinois  river,  in  Mor- 
gan county,  twenty-five  miles  north  east  from  Jackson- 
ville, on  fractional  township  eighteen  north,  and  twelve 
west.  It  is  on  elevated  ground,  sandy  soil,  and  entire- 
ly above  the  highest  floods. 

It  has  one  steam  flouring  mill,  with  four  run  of  stones, 
one  do.  with  two  run  of  stones,  an  ox  mill  for  grinding 
corn,  a  distillery,  nine  stores  and  groceries — three  of 
which  are  commission  and  forwarding,  two  taverns, 
three  physicians,  a  printing  office,  which  publishes  week- 
ly the  "Beardstown  Chronicle,"  with  a  proportionate 
number  of  mechanics. 

The  poulation  of  the  town  is  about  700. 

Beardstown  is  situated  on  the  great  road  from  Terre 
Haute,  by  Paris,  Decatur,  and  Springfield,  to  Rushville 
andQuincy. 


182  A   GAZETTEER 

Sear  Creek,  a  small  branch  of  the  Macoupen,  twelve 
miles  west  from  Carlinville. 

Bear  Creek  heads  in  String  prairie,  and  enters  Apple 
creek,  in  Greene  county.  A  considerable  settlement  is 
on  its  borders. 

Bear  Creek,  a  small  stream  and  branch  of  the  middle 
fork  of  Shoal  creek,  and  a  settlement  in  Montgomery 
county.  The  land  is  rather  level,  and  inclined  to  be  wet, 
but  fertile. 

Bear  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  the  south  eastern  part 
of  Sangamon  county,  with  a  considerable  settlement.  It 
enters  the  South  Fork  of  Sangamon  from  the  south  side. 

Bear  Creek,  a  small  stream  that  rises  in  the  north 
part  of  Gallatin  county,  runs  south,  and  enters  the  North 
Fork  of  Saline  creek,  ten  miles  above  Equality.  Here 
is  much  good  land,  and  a  large  settlement. 

Bear  Creek,  is  a  fine  stream  in  Adams  county,  with 
two  principal  forks.  South  Fork  rises  in  one  north,  six 
west.  North  Fork  rises  in  five  north,  seven  west,  in 
Hancock  county,  and  interlocks  with  the  western  branch 
of  Crooked  creek.  They  unite  in  section  thirteen,  two 
north,  eight  west.  After  passing  through  the  bluffs  into 
the  Mississippi  bottom,  this  stream  divides  into  two 
prongs;  one  runs  a  north  west  course  and  enters  the 
Mississippi — the  other  prong  bears  a  little  south  of  west, 
receiving  several  small  streams,  and  enters  Boston  Bay, 
one  mile  above  Quincy. 

This  stream  is  about  forty  yards  wide,  at  its  separa- 
tion, and  has  a  number  of  mill  seats.  Few  bodies  of 
land  in  the  state  equal  that  which  lines  its  banks. 

Large  settlements  extend  along  its  timber. 


'     OF    ILLINOIS.  183 

Bear  Prairie  is  a  small  tract  in  Wayne  county,  five 
miles  east  of  Fairfield,  with  twenty  families. 

Beaucoup  is  a  large  settlement  on  Beaucoup  creek, 
in  Washington  county,  south  of  New  Nashville.  The 
land  is  a  mixture  of  timber  and  prairie,  and  good  second 
rate  soil. 

Beaucoup  Settlement  is  in  Jackson  county,  twelve  miles 
north  east  from  Brownsville,  between  the  Big  Beaucoup 
creek  and  Big  Muddy  river.  The  land  is  rich,  heavily 
timbered,  with  a  considerable  settlement. 

Beaver  Creek,  called  also  stinking  creek,  rises  in  Bond 
county,  runs  south  into  Clinton  county,  crosses  the  Vin- 
cennes  and  St.  Louis  road,  four  miles  west  of  Carlyle, 
and  empties  into  Shoal  creek,  in  the  north  eastern  part 
of  township  one  north,  four  west.  It  is  about  twenty-five 
miles  in  length,  is  a  sluggish,  muddy,  stream,  and  wa- 
ters a  fine  tract  of  country.  * 

The  settlement  extends  its  whole  length. 

Beck's  Creek  heads  in  the  western  part  of  Shelby 
county,  runs  southeast,  and  enters  the  Kaskaskiain  the 
northern  part  of  Fayette,  eighteen  miles  above^Vanda- 
lia.  It  is  a  mill  stream,  has  much  good  land  on  its  banks, 
and  dry,  rolling  prairie  adjoining. 

The  timber  is  oak  of  various  kinds,  walnut,  locust, 
coffee  nut,  cherry,  elm,  etc. 

Begg^s  Settlement,  in  the  south  east  part  of  Union  coun- 
ty, on  the  waters  of  Cash  river.  It  is  a  fine,  undulating, 
timbered  region,  and  contains  about  120  families. 

Bellpfountaine ,  a  large  spring  and  settlement  in  Mon- 
roe county,  four  miles  north  of  Waterloo.  In  the  vici- 
nity of  this  place,  several  attacks  were  made  by  the 


184  A    GAZETTEER 

Indians,  forty  years  since;  some  of  the  inhabitants  were 
killed,  and  others  taken  prisoners. 

Bell's  Settlement,  in  St.  Clair  county,  eleven  miles 
north  easterly  from  Belleville. 

BELLEVILLE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  St.  Clair  county,  is 
situated  on  sections  twenty-two,  twenty-three,  twenty- 
seven,  and  twenty-eight,  of  township  one  north,  in  range 
eight  west  of  the  third  principal  meridian.  It  is  a  neat 
flourishing  village,  on  high  ground,  six  miles  from  the 
American  bottom,  and  thirteen  miles  east  south  east 
from  St.  Louis.  The  public  buildings  are  a  handsome 
court  house  of  brick,  finished  in  a  superior  stile,  a  brick 
jail,  a  public  hall  belonging  to  a  library  company,  and  a 
framed  Methodist  house  of  worship.  It  has  two  select 
schools;  one  for  boarders  half  a  mile  distant. 

Here  are  two  steam  flouring  mills,  three  taverns,  four 
stores,  two  groceries,  mechanics  of  various  kinds,  and 
about  eighty  or  ninety  families. 

It  is  surrounded  with  a  rich  and  extensive  agricultu- 
ral settlement,  and  a  fine  body  of  timber.  Belleville 
contains  a  printing  office,  which  issues  th.e"S/.  Clair  Ga- 
zette" and  is  a  place  of  considerable  business. 

Bellevue  Prairie,  is  a  rich,  dry,  prairie,  at  the  foot  of 
the  bluffs,  in  Calhoun  county.  It  is  six  miles  long,  and 
three  fourths  of  a  mile  wide,  with  a  gradual  descent 
from  the  bluffs.  Bellevue  post  office,  is  in  this  settle- 
ment, which  contains  about  forty  families. 

Bernards  Mill,  and  settlement,  on  Apple  creek,  in 
Greene  county,  seven  miles  north  west  fromCarrollton. 

Berlin,*,  town  site  and  post  office,  inSangamon  coun- 
ty, on  the  west  side  of  Island  Grove,  seventeen  miles 
west  from  Springfield,  on  the  main  road  to  Jacksonville. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  185 

Bemfs  Settlement  is  in  the  forks  of  Crooked  creek,  in 
Clinton  county,  eight  miles  southeasterly  fromCarlyle. 

Bethel)  a  populous  settlement  in  St.  Clair  county,  ten 
miles  north  of  Belleville.  Here  is  a  Baptist  meeting; 
house  and  congregation,  and  a  moral,  religious  society 
of  industrious  farmers. 

Big  Bay  Creek,  a  smaU  stream  that  rises  in  the  north 
eastern  part  of  Johnson  county.  It  takes  a  south  east- 
ern direction,  receiving  Cedar  creek  in  that  county,  and 
Little  Bay  creek  in  Pope  county,  and  enters  the  Ohio 
about  six  miles  below  Golconda.  Its  bottoms  are  wide, 
and  the  bluffs  rather  broken;  and  towards  the  Ohio  the 
bottom  land  produces  large  quantities  of  cypress  with 
other  growth. 

Big  Bottom  is  a  settlement  in  the  north  west  corner  of 
Alexander  county,  on  Clear  creek.  The  soil  is  first  rate 
alluvion. 

Big  Beaucoup  Creek,  one  of  the  four  heads  of  Big  Mud- 
dy river.  It  rises  in  the  south  eastern  part  of  Washing- 
ton county,  township  three  south,  in  range  two  west. 
runs  a  south  course  through  Perry  county  and  enters  the 
Big  Muddy  in  section  thirty-five,  eight  south,  two  west, 
eight  miles  above  Brownsville.  It  has  much  good  land 
on  its  borders,  some  excellent  prairies,  and  fine  timber, 
consisting  of  oak,  hickory,  ash,  poplar,  elm,  walnut ,  etc. 
The  bottom  land  is  rather  wet.  Big  Beaucoup  is  navi- 
gable for  flat  boats. 

Big-  Creek,  in  Pope  county,  rises  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  county,  runs  south,  and  enters  the  Ohio,  fifteen 
miles  above  Golconda. 


186  A    GAZETTEER 

Big  Creek,  in  Crawford  county,  a  small  stream  that  en- 
ters the  Embarras  in  the  south  western  part  of  the 
county. 

Big  Creek  is  a  small  stream  that  rises  on  the  Grand 
Prairie,  in  Edgar  county,  runs  a  southeast  direction, 
passes  through  a  corner  of  Clark,  and  enters  the  Wa- 
bash  near  the  point  at  which  the  dividing  line  of  the 
two  states  leaves  that  river.  The  land  through  which  it 
passes  is  good,  well  timbered,  and  densely  settled  with 
a  farming  population. 

Big  Creek,  in  Effingham  county,  a  branch  of  the  Little 
Wabash,  running  a  south  east  course  through  Brockett's 
settlement  to  that  river. 

Big  Creek,  in  Macon  county,  a  branch  of  the  North 
Fork  of  Sangamon.  It  is  formed  from  Long  creek,  and 
Findley's  fork. 

Big  Creek,  a  stream  in  Fayette  county,  which  rises  in 
the  Grand  prairie,  north  east  from  Vandalia,  crosses  the 
national  road  twelve  miles  east  of  that  place,  runs  south 
west,  and  enters  the  Kaskaskia  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
county. 

Big  Creek,  in  the  western  part  of  Crawford  county, 
runs  south  and  enters  the  Embarras. 

Big  Creek,  in  Fulton  county,  a  small  stream  that  rises 
near  Canton,  runs  south  west,  and  enters  Spoon  river 
one  mile  above  the  road  from  Rushville  to  Lewistown. 
A  considerable  settlement  and  good  land  towards  its 
head. 

Big  Grove,  in  Champaign  county,  is  on  a  branch  of  the 
Halt  Fork  of  the  Vermilion  river,  and  is  about  the  cen- 
tre of  the  connty.  It  is  a  body  of  heavy  timbered,  rich 


OF    ILLINOIS.  18? 

land,  twelve  miles  long,  and  of  an  average  of  three  miles 
in  width.  The  country  around  is  most  delightful,  the 
prairie  is  elevated,  dry,  and  of  a  very  rich  soil,  the  water 
is  good,  and  the  country  very  healthy.  The  population 
at  Big  grove  must  now  exceed  100  families. 

Urbanna,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Champaign  county,  is 
supposed  to  be  on  this  grove. 

Big"  Grove,  in  La  Salle  county,  twenty  miles  north  east 
from  Ottawa,  is  about  three  miles  in  diameter.  The 
land  in  the  timber  is  wet,  but  the  surrounding  prairie, 
is  dry,  undulating  and  rich. 

Big  Grove,  a  timbered  tract,  or  rather  severa  groves, 
connected,  for  twelve  miles  in  length,  in  the  south  west- 
ern part  of  McLean  county,  on  the  third  principal  meri- 
dian, and  township  twenty-one  north.  It  is  a  fine  tract 
of  country,  rich  in  soil  and  well  timbered,  on  the  Kicka- 
poo  creek.  Bloomington,  the  county  seat,  is  eighteen 
miles  from  the  heart  of  the  settlement,  which  contains 
from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  families. 

Big  Grove,  a  beautiful,  high,  undulating,  and  rich 
tract  of  timber,  near  some  of  the  heads  of  Spoon  river, 
in  Henry  county.  It  is  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  long,  and 
about  three  miles  wide,  surrounded  with  extensive  and 
rather  level  prairies. 

Big  Mound  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  is  five  miles 
west  from  Fairfield,  three  miles  in  extent,  undulating 
surface,  thin  soil,  and  has  about  fifty  families. 
A  large  mound  gives  the  name  to  this  prairie. 
Big  Muddy  river,  (called  by  the  French  who  discover- 
ed it,  Riviere au  Vase,  or  P^aseux)  a  considerable  stream 
in  the  south  western  part  of  the  state. 


188  A  GAZETTEER 

It  has  four  principal  heads,  which,  rising  in  Washing- 
ton, Jefferson,  and  Hamilton  counties,  and  uniting  in 
Jackson  county,  form  the  main  stream. 

They  are  the  Beaucoup,  Little  Muddy,  and  Middle 
Fork.  The  general  course  of  the  stream  is  south  west, 
and  it  is  navigable  some  distance  above  Brownsville.  Be- 
low Brownsville  it  turns  south  to  the  county  line,  makes 
a  short  bend  into  Union  county,  and  enters  the  Missis- 
sippi near  the  north  eastern  corner  of  township  eleven 
south,  in  range  three  west  of  the  third  principal  meri- 
dian. 

Its  bluffs  generally  are  abrubt,  the  land  along  its  bor- 
ders and  branches  is  undulating,  and  for  most  of  its 
length  well  timbered.  Valuable  salines  exist  on  its 
banks,  and  are  worked  about  Brownsville,  where  there 
is  an  inexhaustible  bed  of  bituminous  coal.  Native  cop- 
per has  been  found  on  its  banks  in  detached  masses. 
It  runs  through  a  fine  agricultural  and  grazing  country. 

Big  Neck,  is  a  settlement  in  one  south,  six  west,  at 
the  head  of  the  South  Fork  of  Bear  creek,  in  Adams 
county: — a  tract  of  good  land. 

Big  Prairie,  in  White  county,  between  the  Little 
and  Big  Wabash,  about  three  miles  in  diameter,  and 
nearly  all  in  a  state  of  cultivation.  The  soil  is  sandy, 
but  of  great  fertility. 

Big  Woods,  is  a  large  tract  of  timbered  land  on  Fox 
river,  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  miles  above  Ottawa.  It 
is  about  twenty-five  miles  long  and  from  one  to  four 
miles  wide,  undulating  in  some  parts,  but  level  and  wet 
in  others.  The  timber  consists  of  oaks  of  various  spe- 
cies, walnut,  linden,  sugar  maple,  elm,  cherry,  etc. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  189 

The  prairie  adjoining,  in  general,  is  undulating  and 
rich.  This  country  is  rapidly  settling. 

Birch  Creek,  is  a  small  stream  that  rises  in  Morgan 
county,  and  enters  Apple  creek  in  Greene  county.  The 
settlement  contains  about  twenty-five  families. 

Black  Creek  is  an  insignificant  stream,  in  Pike  coun- 
ty, that  enters  the  Snicartee. 

Black  Partridge  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  the  upper 
part  of  Tazewell  county,  that  enters  the  Illinois  river. 

Bloomfield,  a  post  office  in  Edgar  county.  (See  Bru- 
lette's  creek.) 

Blooming'  Grove,  a  tract  of  timbered  land  and  a  large 
settlement,  in  McLean  county,  adjoining  Bloomington. 
It  is  about  six  miles  long  from  north  west  to  south  east 
and  varying  in  width  from  one  to  four  miles, — containing 
about  twelve  square  miles  of  beautiful  timber,  with  a 
large  settlement  of  industrious  farmers  around  it.  Near- 
ly all  the  land  is  already  occupied  with  settlers,  a  ma- 
jority of  whom  are  from  Ohio.  Both  timbered  land  and 
prairie  are  first  rate. 

BLOOMINGTON,  is  the  seat  of  justice  for  McLean  coun- 
ty, and  a  promising  village. 

It  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Blooming  Gro 
on  section  four,  twenty-three  north,  two  east,  on  a' 
beautiful  and  elevated  spot,  in  a  dry  and  rich  prairie. 
Bloomington  was  surveyed  in  April,  1831;  the  first  lots 
were  sold  July  4th,  and  improvements  commenced  in  the 
autumn  of  the  same  year.  Notwithstanding  the  retard- 
ing influence  of  the  Indian  war  upon  our  northern  Bor- 
ders, this  town  site  has  advanced  rapidly  into  a  village. 
It  has  five  stores,  two  groceries,  one  tavern  and  about 
200  inhabitants. 


I    frrt 


190  A    GAZETTEER 

The  citizens  of  Bloomington  have  learned  the  secret 
hso  difficult  to  be  understood  in  our  western  villages,  that 
framed  tenements  are  more  economical  and  convenient 
than  misshapen  piles  of  logs.  All  their  houses  are  neat 
frames.  This  town,  though  not  the  geographical  centre 
of  the  county,  is  the  centre  of  the  population. 

Block-House,  a  name  given  to  an  American  settlement 
formed  about  forty  years  since,  in  the  American  bottom, 
in  the  south  western  part  of  St,  Clair  county.  At  the 
foot  of  the  bluffs,  near  this  is  a  spring  that  regularly 
ebbs  and  flows,  once  in  twenty-four  hours. 

Blue  Creek,  in  the  upper  part  of  Tazewell  county, 
rises  in  the  prairie,  runs  west,  and  enters  the  Illinois 
below  Spring  bay. 

Bluffdale,  a  settlement  in  Greene  county,  ten  miles 
west  of  Carrollton,  and  under  the  bluffs  that  overhang 
the  Illinois  bottom.  The  land  is  rich,  dry,  and  beauti- 
fully situated  for  six  miles  in  extent,  under  overhanging 
bluffs  and  precipices  from  which  springs  of  "crystal  wa- 
ters" gush  forth.  The  settlement  is  generally  arranged 
along  the  bluffs  from  Apple  creek  to  the  Macoupen,  from 
three  to  four  miles  from  the  Illinois  river,  and  consists 
of  fifty  or  sixty  families. 

Blue  Point,  a  point  of  timber  projecting  into  the 
prairie,  in  Effingham  county,  five  miles  north  west  of 
Ewington. 

Blue  River.  There  are  two  small  streams  of  this  name 
in  Pike  county  distinguished  as  Big  and  Little  Blue.  They 
rise  in  the  middle  of  the  county,  run  a  south  east  course 
and  enter  the  Illinois,  in  three  south,  two  west,  about 
six  miles  apart.  The  land  through  which  they  pass  is 

rtile,  and  much  of  it  is  yet  owned  by  governmen 


OP    ILLINOIS.  191 

Bolive,  a  town  site  in  the  forks  of  Sangamon  river, 
ten  miles  south  east  from  Springfield,  surrounded  with 
a  large  and  nourishing  settlement. 

Boliinghouse  Prairie,  lies  south  of  Albion,  in  Edwards 
county.  It  is  about  four  miles  long  and  three  broad, 
dry,  undulating  surface,  and  good  soil. 

Bum  Pas,  (Bumpau,)  a  small  village  near  the  creek  of 
the  same  name  in  the  north  east  part  of  White  county. 
Bon  Pas,  a  creek  that  divides  Wabash  and  Edwards 
counties.  It  rises  near  the  Vincennes  road,  fifteen 
miles  west  of  Lawrenceville  and  taking  a  south  easterly 
course,  enters  the  Wabash  river  in  section  fourteen, 
township  three  south,  range  fourteen  west  of  the  se- 
cond principal  meridian,  at  the  corner  of  Wabash  and 
White  counties.  Its  banks  are  low  and  swampy. 

Bon  Pas  Pyairie,  four  miles  north  east  from  Albion, 
in  Edwards  county,  and  about  two  miles  in  diameter, 
It  contains  good  land,  and  a  settlement. 

Bon  Pas  Settlement,  near  the  south  east  corner  of  Ed- 
wards county,  between  the  Bon  Pas  creek  and  Little 
Wabash  river.  It  is  a  timbered  tract,  good  land,  and 
contains  about  sixty  families. 

Boston  Bay  is  an  arm  of  the  Mississippi,  above  Q,uin- 
cy,  in  Adams  county,  which  at  a  tolerable  stage  of 
water,  furnishes  a  fine  harbor  for  boats. 

Boston,  a  town  site  in  Canaan  settlement,  Shelby 
county,  twelve  miles  north  of  Shelbyville,  township 
thirteen  north,  four  east,  on  the  west  fork  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia. 

Boston,  a  town  site  laid  off  by  Hindman  and  others,  on 
Crooked  creek,  in  Schuyler  county,  on  section  eleven, 


192  A    GAZETTEER 

one  south,  two  west,  nine  miles  south  from  Rushviile. 
Crooked  creek  may  be  rendered  navigable  to  this  place 
at  a  trifling  expense. 

Bostwick's  Settlement  is  three  miles  north  east  from 
Hillsboro',  in  Montgomery  county,  a  dry,  rolling,  fertile 
prairie. 

Bottom  Settlement,  commences  in  the  north  western 
part  of  Union  county,  and  extends  down  the  Mississippi. 
This  bottom  is  timbered,  and  is  from  three  to  four  miles 
wide, — but  part  of  it  is  wet  and  inundated. 

The  settlement  lies  chiefly  along  the  bank  of  the 
river. 

Bottom  Settlement,  in  Alexander  county,  lies  along  the 
Mississippi,  on  rich  alluvial  land,  heavily  timbered,  and 
contains  sixty  or  seventy  families. 

Bradley's  Settlement  is  at  the  head  of  Kincaid  creek, 
in  the  north  part  of  Jackson  county.  It  is  a  timbered 
region,  tolerable  land,  and  has  twenty-five  or  thirty 
families. 

Brattlemlle,  a  post  office  in  Carter's  settlement,  in  Mc- 
Donough  county,  twelve  miles  south  of  Macomb,  and  on 
the  mail  road  to  Rushviile. 

Bridge's  Settlement,  in  Johnson  county,  ten  miles  west 
from  Vienna,  contains  some  tolerably  good  land.  Pop- 
ulation about  sixty  families. 

Broad  Run,  a  small  stream  in  Coles  county.  It  rises 
in  the  Grand  prairie,  and  runs  south  west  into  the  Kas- 
kaskia.  Settlement  small. 

Brocket's  Settlement  on  the  west  side  of  the  Little  Wa- 
bash,  eight  miles  southwesterly  from  Ewington,  in  Ef- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  193 

fingham  county.     The  surface  is  tolerably  level  and  the 
settlement  contains  forty  or  fifty  families. 

Brown's  Point,  a  settlement  at  the  head  of  timber  in  a 
large  prairie  in  Morgan  county,  ten  miles  south  of  Jack- 
sonville. 

Brown's  Prairie^  in  the  corner  of  Macoupen  and  Greene 
counties  and  extending  into  Madison  county,  between 
Wood  river  and  the  Piasau.  It  is  rich,  dry  soil,  and  is 
about  twelve  miles  east  from  Alton. 

BROWNSVILLE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Jackson  county,  is 
situated  on  the  north  side  of  Big  Muddy  river,  on  sec- 
tion two,  nine  south,  and  three  west  of  the  third  princi- 
pal meridian.  It  is  twelve  miles  by  land,  and  twenty- 
five  by  water  from  the  Mississippi,  and  is  surrounded  by 
hills. 

The  Big  Muddy  Salines  and  coal  banks  are  near  this 
place.  The  population  is  about  twenty  families. 

Brulelfs  Creek  rises  in  the  north  part  of  Edgar  coun- 
ty, and  runs  eastward  across  a  portion  of  Indiana  into 
the  Wabash.  The  timber  on  Us  banks  is  chiefly  oak. 
The  settlement  is  in  the  forks,  and  along  the  north 
fork  of  the  creek.  The  land  is  good.  Prairie  predomi- 
nates over  the  timbered  land.  The  post  office  is  called 
Bloomfield. 

Brush  Creek  rises  in  the  east  part  of  Shelby  county, 
runs  a  south  west  course,  and  empties  into  the  Kaskas- 
kia  river,  in  the  south  part  of  the  county.  The  timber 
is  indifferent,  and  the  prairies  are  level  and  wet. 

Brush  Creek,  rises  in  the  prairies  in  the  south  part  of 
Sangamon  county,  runs  north  and  enters  Horse  creek, 
a  little  above  its  junction  with  the  Sangamon. 
13 


194  A    GAZETTEER 

Brushy  Fork,  a  small  branch  of  the  Embarras  on  the 
east  side,  and  in  the  northern  p^xrt  of  Lawrence  county. 
It  runs  a  south  course,  and  enters  the  main  stream  six 
miles  above  Lawrencevillc. 

The  settlement  is  new, containing  twenty-five  or  thir- 
ty families,  and  a  portion  of  the  country  barrens. 

brushy  Fork,  a  small  stream  that  rises  in  the  prairie, 
near  the  borders  of  Edgar  county,  and  taking  a  south 
west  course,  enters  the  Embarras  in  Coles  county,  four- 
teen miles  aboveCharleston.  On  the  east  side  the  land  is 
rolling  and  fertile,  and  there  is  asettlement  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  families;  on  the  west  side  the  land  is  level  and 
rather  wet. 

Brushy  Hill,  a  post  office  and  settlement  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  St.  Clair  county,  fifteen  miles  east  from 
Belleville. 

Brushy  Prairie,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Lil  tie  Wabash, 
in  Wayne  county,  eleven  miles  east  of  Fairfield,  and 
contains  about  fifty  families. 

B':ci-c-he.arl  Prairie,  in  Fulton  county,  is  north  east 
from  Lewistown,  and  joins  Canton  Prairie.  It  is  six  or 
eight  miles  in  extent,  and  has  a  considerable  settle- 
ment. 

Bnck-hcarl  Creek  rises  near  the  South  Fork  of  the 
Sangamon  river,  runs  north  west,  and  enters  the  North 
Fork.  It  has  a  considerable  settlement. 

I.  i cl: -heart  Grove,  at  the  head  of  Buck-heart  creek,  in 
Sangamon  county,  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  south  east 
from  Springfield.  It  is  a  fine  tract  of  timber,  about 
1000  acres,  surrounded  with  high  prairie  and  settle- 
ment. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  195 

Buck  Prairie  lies  in  Edwards  county,  six  miles  north 
east  from  Albion,  and  is  about  two  miles  and  a  half 
across. 

B:ick-horn  Prairie  is  in  Morgan  county,  six  or  eight 
miles  south  of  Jacksonville.  The  soil  is  rich,  but  its 
surface  is  rather  level  and  wet. 

Buckle's  Grove,  at  the  head  of  the  north  branch  of 
Salt  creek,  in  McLean  county,  contains  about  twelve 
sections  of  timbered  land,  surrounded  with  rich  prairie. 
It  is  in  twenty-two  north,  four  east,  and  is  about  six  or 
eight  miles  east  from  Bloomington.  Population  about 
fifty  families. 

Timher  principally  oak,  with  some  sugar  maple,  and 
the  land  around  it  rather  level. 

Buffalo?  Grove,  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  twelve  miles 
north  of  Dixon's  ferry,  and  on  the  road  to  Galena.  It 
contains  four  or  five  sections  of  timber,  surrounded  with 
the  richest  prairie. 

Buff  aloe- ke  art  Grove-  lies  in  Sangamon  county,  four- 
teen miles  north  east  from  Springfield,  and  six  miles 
south  easterly  from  Elk-heart  grove,  which  it  resem- 
bles. It  is  about  three  miles  long  and  one  mile  and  a 
half  wide,  containing  about  four  sections  of  timber,  and 
twenty-five  or  thirty  families.  The  rushes,  which  cover 
the  prairies  around,  furnish  winter  food  for  cat  tie. 

Buffaloe  Rock,  a  singular  promontory  on  the  north 
sideof  the  Illinois  river,  in  La  Salle  county,  six  miles  be- 
low Ottawa.  It  rises  fifty  or  sixty  feet  nearly  perpen- 
dicular on  three  sides,  and  contains  on  its  surface  about 
six  hundred  acres  of  timber  and  prairie. 

Bullzrd's  Prairie,  sometimes  called  Gardner's  prairie, 


196  A    GAZETTEER 

in,  the  western  part  of  Lawrence  county,  sixteen  milea 
from  Lawrenceville.  It  is  eight  or  ten  miles  long,  and 
two  miles  wide,  second  rate  soil,  and  has  considerable 
settlements  on  its  borders. 

Buncombe  Settlement,  in  Johnson  county,  eight  miles 
north  west  from  Vienna,  contains  forty  families;  soil  ra- 
ther broken,  thin,  and  rocky. 

Bureau  Creek  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  Putnam 
county,  runs  south  west,  receives  Little  Bureau,  turns 
thence  south  east,  and  enters  the  Illinois  river  nearly 
opposite  Hennepin.  It  is  a  fine  mill  stream,  with  a  bold 
current,  rock,  gravel,  and  sand  in  its  bottom,  and  re- 
ceives a  number  of  branches.  About  the  bluffs  of  the 
Illinois  the  surface  of  the  land  is  broken,  but  in  gene- 
ral it  is  excellent  the  whole  length  of  the  stream.  Be- 
tween its  branches  are  fine  prairies,  undulating,  rich, 
and  dry,  and  along  its  borders  is  much  excellent  timber. 

Burnside's  Settlement,  in  Clinton  county,  five  miles 
north  of  Carlye,  called  by  some  the  Irish  settlement. 

Burnt  Prairie,  in  the  north  western  part  of  White,  and 
extending  into  Wayne  county,  is  about  two  miles  in  di- 
ameter, contains  some  good  land  and  a  dense  settle- 
ment. 

Burnt  Prairie,  in  Edwards  county,  four  miles  north 
west  from  Albion.  It  is  about  six  miles  long  and  two 
miles  wide,  interspersed  with  small  groves  and  points 
of  timber.  The  soil  is  good,  and  the  population  dense. 
Here  is  a  windmill  erected  by  a  Mr.  Clark,  an  English 
gentleman,  which  does  good  business  as  a  grist  mill. 

CadwelVs  Branch,  a  small  branch  of  the  Mauvaiseterre, 
whicn  it  enters  from  the  south,  ten  miles  below  Jack- 
sonville. It  is  a  mill  stream  and  rocky. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  197 

Cahohia,  an  old  French  village,  and  one  of  the  earliest 
in  Illinois,  situated  in  the  American  bottom,  in  St. 
Clair  county,  five  miles  south  of  Wigginrs  Ferry,  and  ten 
miles  north  of  west  from  Belleville. 

The  Cahokias,(or  according  to  the  orthography  of  the 
early  French  explorers,  the  Caoqit.ias,}one  of  the  tribes  of 
the  great  nation  of  Illini,  had  made  this  a  resting  place 
for  a  long  time  previous  to  the  discovery  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, probably  on  account  of  the  game  which  abounded 
in  the  vicinity.  It  is  probable  that  the  first  settlement 
was  made  here  by  the  French,  shortly  after  La  Salle  de- 
scended the  Mississippi,  m  1633. 

Charlevoix,  who  visited  the  place  in  1721,  expresses 
his  atonishment  that  his  countrymen  had  pitched  upon 
so  inconvenient  a  situation,  being  "half  a  league"  from 
the  river.  He  says,  however,  the  people  told  him  that 
the  Mississippi  ouce  washed  the  foot  of  the  village,  but 
that  in  three  years  it  had  receded  half  a  leauge,  and  that 
the  people  were  talking  of  removing  to  a  more  eligible 
situation. 

In  1766,  it  contained  forty  familes;  and  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  revolutionary  war  they  had  increased 
to  fifty.  This  is  about  their  present  number.  It  was 
once  the  seat  of  a  cons:derahle  fur  trade. 

Both  the  Spanish  and  French  governments,  in  form- 
ing settlements  on  the  Mississippi,  had  special  regard  to. 
convenience  of  social  intercourse,  and  protection  from 
the  Indians.  All  their  settlements  were  required  to  be 
in  the  form  of  villages  or  towns,  and  lots  of  a  conven- 
ient size  fcr  a  door  yard,  garden,  and  stable  yard  were 
provided  for  each  family.  To  each  village  were  granted 


198  A    GAZETTEER 

two  tracts  of  land  at  convenient  distances,  for  "com- 
mon fields,"  and  "commons" 

A  common  fit  Id  is  a  tract  of  land  of  several  hundred 
acres,  enclosed  in  common  by  the  villagers,  each  person 
furnishing  his  proportion  of  labor,  and  each  family  pos- 
sessing individual  interest  in  a  portion  of  the  field,  mark- 
ed off,  and  bounded  from  the  rest.  Ordinances  were 
made  to  regulate  the  repairs  of  fences,  the  time  of  ex- 
cluding cattle  in  the  spring,  and  the  time  of  gathering 
the  crop  and  opening  the  field  for  the  range  of  cattle  in 
the  fall.  Each  plat  of  ground  in  the  common  field  was 
owned  in  fee  simple  by  the  person  to  whom  granted,  sub- 
ject to  sale  and  conveyance,  the  same  as  any  landed  pro- 
perly. 

A  common  is  a  tract  of  land  granted  to  the  town  for 
wood  and  pasturage,  in  which  each  owner  of  a  village  lot 
has  a  common,  but  not  an  individual  right.  In  some  cases 
this  tract  embraced  t-everal  thousand  acres.  The  ''com- 
mon" attached  to  Cahokia,  extends  up  the  prairie  oppo- 
site St.  Louis. 

Cahokia  Creek,  rises'*  in  Macoupen  county,  runs  in  a 
south  westerly  direction  through  Madison  into  St.  Clair 
county,  and  empties  into  the  Mississippi  two  miles  be- 
low the  ferry  at  St.  Louis.  Through  the  American  bot- 
tom the  course  of  this  stream  is  very  slugglish,  and 
meanders  greatly.  A  mill  dam  backs  up  the  water  fif- 
teen miles.  Near  its  borders  are  several  lakes  and 
ponds  rendering  this  portion  of  the  American  bottom 
unhealthy. 

Formerly  this  creek  passed  Cahokia  village,  and  en- 
tered the  Mississippi  further  down,  but  a  mischievous 


OF    ILLINOIS.  199 

Frenchman,  from  some  pique  against  the  village,  cut  a 
channel  from  the  creek  to  the  river,  and  formed  its 
present  outlet.  Along  its  borders  are  sixty  or  seventy 
mounds  of  various  shapes  and  sizes. 

Calamic,  a  stream  at  the  south  end  of  lake  Michigan. 
It  rises  in  Indiana  runs  westward  into  Illinois,  turns 
north,  snd  enters  the  lake.  Much  of  the  country  near 
the  lake  is  low  and  swampy.  Further  up  are  rapids  and 
falls  in  the  stream. 

Caledonia,  a  town  laid  offon  the  bluffs  of  the  Ohio,  in 
in  Alexander  county,  three  miles  above  America.  A 
wharf  is  here  constructing  to  secure  a  good  landing  for 
boats  which  is  wanted  at  America. 

It  has  two  or  three  stores,  a  dozen  families,  and  is 
thought  to  be  an  important  site  for  business.  An  ap- 
propriation of  $4600  has  been  made  by  the  present  con- 
gress to  erect  a  hospital  at  this  place  for  boatmen  on  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  waters. 

Camden,  a  town  site  at  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river, 
in  the  south  west  part  of  Greene  county. 

Cameron's  Settlement,  in  Fulton  county,  eight  miles 
north  west  from  Lewistown,  is  in  a  tract  of  good  land,  a 
mixture  of  timber  and  prairie,  with  a  considerable  popu- 
lation. 

Campbell's  Island,  in  the  Mississippi,  ten  miles  above 
Rock  Island,  in  the  upper  rapids  of  the  Mississippi. 

Camp  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Randolph  county,  that 
enters  the  Kaskaskia  river  on  the  west  side,  in  five 
south,  eight  west. 

Camp  Creek  is  an  insignificant  stream  that  rises  in 
the  prairies  which  divide  Hancock  from  Warren  coun- 
ties, and  runs  west  into  the  Mississippi. 


200  A  GAZETTEER 

Camp  Fbrk,  a  branch  of  Crooked  creek,  in  McDonongh 
county,  rises  in  Hickory  grove,  on  the  north  side  of  se- 
ven north  two  west,  runs  south,  and  unites  with  Drown- 
ing fork.  The  land  on  all  these  creeks  is  of  the  first 
quality. 

Cnnaan,  is  a  rich  settlement  in  Shelby  county,  twelve 
miles  north  of  Shelby  ville:  a  very  superior  tract. 

Cantet.il  Creek  rises  in  Ridge  prairie,  in  the  south  part 
of  Madison  county,  runs  a  western  course,  and  enters 
the  Cahokia  creek  in  the  American  bottom.  Little 
Canteen  creek  rises  in  St.  Clair  county,  and  enters  the 
m?.in  creek  about  the  bluffs. 

Canteen  Settlement,  in  Madison  county,  about  six  miles 
south  of  Edwardsville. 

Canton,  a  pleasant  town  in  Fulton  county,  on  the  bor- 
ders of  a  large  prairie,  fifteen  miles  north  of  Lewistown, 
on  section  twenty-seven,  seven  north,  four  east. 

It  has  two  stores,  one  tavern,  a  post  office,  fifteen  or 
twenty  families,  and  is  surrounded  with  large  and  well 
cultivated  farms.  One  person  has  about  600  acres  under 
cultivation.  The  country  around  is  high,  undulating, 
fertile,  and  healthy,  with  a  mixture  of  timber  and  prai- 
rie. 

Canton  Prairie,  in  Fulton  county,  commences  near 
Spoon  river  and  runs  northward,  dividing  the  waters 
that  fall  into  Spoon  river  on  the  left,  from  those  that 
enter  the  Illinois  on  the  ri^ht,  till  it  becomes  lost  in  the 
interminable  prairies  on  Rock  river.  At  Canton  it  is 
from  two  to  three  miles  in  width,  dry,  undulating,  and 
inexhaustibly  rich.  Further  north  it  becomes  inferior. 

CantriWs  Creek  rises  on  the  eastern  side  of  Sangamon 


OF    ILLINOIS.  201 

county,  runs  west,  and  enters  Sangamon  river  about  fif- 
teen miles  above  Salt  Fork.  The  land  on  thi»creek  is 
rather  level,  the  soil  rich,  and  about  equally  divided  inte 
timber  and  prairie. 

Cape  an  Gris.  A  small  French  settlement  of  this 
name,  (which  means  Cape  of  Grit  or  Grindstone,  from  the 
rocks  -near,)  was  formed  on  the  Mississippi,  above  the 
mouthof  the  Illinois,  at  the  most  southern  bend  of  the  ri- 
ver in  Calhoun  county,  about  forty  years  since.  In  1311, 
it  consisted  of  about  twenty  families,  who  had  a  village 
on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  cultivated  a  common  field 
of  about  five  hundred  acres  in  the  prairie,  one  mile  from 
the  river.  They  were  driven  off  by  the  Indians  during 
the  last  war  with  Great  Britain.  The  American  popu- 
lation began  to  enter  this  county,  in  1813. 

CARLINVII.LK,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Macoupen  county, 
is  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  Lake  Fork  of  the 
Macoupen,  in  a  beautiful  prairie. 

It  is  on  section  twenty-eight,  ten  north,  seven  west  of 
the  third  principal  meridian. 

Cariinville  has  two  stores,  one  grocery,  two  lawyers, 
two  physicians,  and  about  forty  families,  and  is  improv- 
ing rapidly.  The  state  roads  from  Vandalia  to  Carroll- 
ton,  and  from  Springfield  to  Alton,  intersect  at  this 
place. 

It  is  fifty-five  miles  north  west  from  Vandalia,  forty- 
five  miles  south  east  from  Jacksonville,  forty-five  miles 
south  west  from  Springfield,  thirty-five  east  of  Carroll- 
ton,  thirty-five  miles  north  from  Kdwardsville,  and  thir- 
ty-five north  east  from  Alton.  The  country  around  Car- 
iinville is  proportionably  divided  into  timber  and  prairie. 


202  A   GAZETTEER 

CAHLYLE,  the  scat  of  justice  for  Clinton  county,  is  si- 
tuated on  the  west  side  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  '215  miles 
by  water  above  its  mouth,  and  on  (he  Vincennes  and  St. 
Louis  read. 

It  was  laid  out  as  a  town  site,  in  ISIS,  on-  section  eigh- 
teen, two  north,  two  west,  on  elevated  ground,  on  the 
border  oft  a  large  prairie.  The  intersection  of  several 
public  roads  from  different  parts  of  the  stale,  gives  it  an 
appearance  of  life  and  business,  rnrely  to  be  seen  in  a 
place  so  remote  from  commercial  advantages. 

Carlyle  contains  five  stores,  two  taverns,  a  grist  and 
saw  mill  by  water  power,  and  thirty-five  or  forty  fami- 
lies. The  court  house  is  of  wood. 

CAKMT,  the  seat  of  justice  of  White  county,  situated 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Little  Wabash,  and  nearly  in 
the  centre  of  the  county.  It  is  surrounded  by  lands  of 
a  good  quality,  and  an  extensive  settlement,  and  is  in 
latitude  thirty-eight  degrees  five  minutes  north,  eighty 
miles  south  east  of  Vandalia.  It  is  now  in  an  improv- 
ing condition,  has  four  stores,  a  saw  and  flouring  mill, 
and  a  neat  brick  court  house,  forty  feet  square,  with  a 
cupola,  the  whole  painted  and  neatly  finished. 

Carrni  has  many  good  framed  houses,  and  about  forty 
families. 

Caroltts,  a  post  office  in  Vermilion  county,  about  twen- 
ty milts  from  Danville,  west  of  south,  and  on  the  mail 
route  from  Vincennes  to  Chicago. 

CAKRCLLTON,  the  seat  ofjustice  for  Greene  county,  is 
a  flourishing  and  pleasant  village,  situated  on  the  bor- 
ders of  Suii  g  prairie,  nearly  cqui-distant  from  Macou- 
pen  and  Apple  creeks,  and  on  the  dividing  line  of  sec- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  203 

tions  twenty-two  and  twenty-three,  ten  north,  and 
twelve  west. 

It  has  six  stores,  one  grocery,  a  variety  of  mechanics, 
and  about  one  hundred  families. 

The  court  house  is  neatly  built  of  brick,  forty-four  by 
forty-six  feet,  two  stories,  with  a  handsome  spire. 

Around  Carrollton  is  a  beautiful  country,  tolerably 
level,  rich  soil,  suitably  proportioned  into  timber  and 
prairie,  and  densely  populated  with  industrious  and 
thriving  farmers. 

There  arc  three  lawyers,  three  physicians,  a  female 
seminary,  a  good  English  school,  a  Sunday  school  and 
Bible  class,  conducted  on  union  principles,  and  public 
worship  held  by  one  or  more  denominations  every  Sab- 
bath. Here  arc  Presbyterian,  Baptist,  and  Methodist 
societies,  and  a  new  sect  recently  organized  by  a  union 
of'Ileformed  Baptists"  and  ''Christians,"  who  call  them- 
selves "Disciples."  The  last  society  outnumbers  the 
rest. 

Houses  of  worship  for  the  Baptists,  Disciples,  and  Me- 
thodists arc  erected,  and  the  Presbyterians  are  prepar- 
ing to  build. 

Improved  farms  around  Carrollton  sell  for  eight  or  ten 
dollars  per  acre.  The  houses  mostly  are  framed,  or  of 
brick,  built  in  a  plain  but  convenient  style- 

Curler's  Settlement,  near  the  south  part  of  McDonough 
county,  twelve  miles  from  Macomb,  on  the  road  to  Rush- 
ville.  The  land  is  gently  undulating,  soil  rich,  timber 
and  prairie  proportioned,  and  an  extensive  settlement. 

It  is  in  the  south  part  of  four  north,  two  west,  be- 
tween the  heads  of  Sugar  creek  and  Grindstone  fork. 
This  is  the  oldest  settlement  in  the  county. 


204  A  GAZETTEER 

CARTHAGE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Hancock  county,  is 
situated  in  the  prairie,  one  mile  from  timber,  between 
the  head  waters  of  Bear  and  Long  creeks,  and  nine 
miles  from  the  Mississippi,  on  the  north  west  quarter 
of  section  nineteen,  township  five  north,  in  range  six 
west.  The  town  was  laid  off  by  commissioners  in  March, 
1S33,  and  about  one  hundred  lots  sold  the  following 
June;  averaging  about  thirty  dollars  each.  It  now  con- 
tains three  stores,  one  grocery,  three  carpenters,  one 
blacksmith,  two  cabinet  makers,  one  wheel  wright,  one 
tavern,  one  brick  maker,  one  physician,  but  no  lawyer. 

The  adjoining  prairie  is  dry,  and  beautifully  undula- 
ting. The  timber  adjacent  is  excellent.  Good  water 
in  all  this  region  is  obtained  by  digging  wells  from  fif- 
teen to  twenty-five  feet  deep.  Coal  is  near  and  in  abun- 
dance. Since  the  sale  of  lots,  property  has  risen  in 
value  about  fifty  per  cent. 

Casey^s  Grove  is  fifteen  miles  north  east  from  Jack- 
sonville, on  the  road  to  Beardstown.  It  is  a  small  grove 
of  from  five  to  six  hundred  acres  on  Clay  creek. 

Casey's  Prairie,  in  Jefferson  county,  adjoining  Mount 
Vernon,  is  five  miles  long  and  two  miles  broad;  surface 
tolerably  level,  soil  second  rate,  and  the  population  con- 
sists of  about  1>:0  families. 

Cask  River,  a  stream  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state, 
which  is  formed  from  several  branches,  and  a  scries  of 
ponds  that  exist  in  Union  and  Johnson  counties.  These 
unite  in  Alexander  county,  through  which  the  main 
stream  follows  a  devious  course,  at  one  time  approach- 
ing within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  Mississippi,  and  again 
approaching  near  the  Ohio,  till  it  empties  its  waters 


OP    ILLINOIS.  205 

into  the  latter  river,  at  Trinity,  six   miles  above  its 
mouth. 

One  of  its  principal  branches  rises  in  Union  county, 
and  forms  the  "Scatters  of  Cash,"  which  see. 

Another  source  of  its  waters  is  in  Johnson  county,  in 
a  series  of  ponds  which  are  connected  with  the  waters 
of  Big  Bay  creek,  in  Pope  county.  The  outlet  of  these 
ponds  is  known  by  the  name  of  Pond  Slough. 

The  alluvions  of  Cash  river,  where  not  inundated,  are 
wide,  of  a  rich  soil,  and  heavily  timbered. 

Cat  Tail  Swamp,  is  in  the  south  part  of  Jo  Daviess 
county,  and  connected  with  the  Marais  d'Ogee. 

Cave  in  Hock.  This  natural  curiosity,  well  known  to 
all  the  navigators  of  the  Ohio  river,  is  situated  on  the 
bank  of  the  Ohio,  where  the  dividing  line  between  Pope 
and  Gailatin  counties  strikes  the  river.  Such  caves  and 
piles  of  rock,  as  are  described  in  the  following  sketch,  are 
called  by  the  Indians  Mon-e-to; — a  name  spelled  Man-i- 
leau,  by  the  French,4  and  sometimes  Mon-it-to  by  other 
authors.  It  signifies  "the  residence  of  a  spirit,"  either 
gopd  or  bad. 

There  are  several  Mon-e-toes  in  Illinois,  Missouri,  and 
other  western  states.  One  is  at  the  precipices  of  the 
Mississippi  adjoining  Lower  Alton.  Two  more  that  give 
names  to  streams  in  Boone  and  Coles  counties,  Missouri. 
The  Indians  relate  soae  wild  and  ;xtravagant  legends 
of  the  freaks  of  thes-  imaginary  beings  at  their  «  resi- 
dences" and  tney  usually  propitiate  the  favor  of  the 
Mon-p.t0j  ky  liberal  offerings,  and  the  firing  of  guns,  as 
V«iey  pass  his  habitation. 

The  pne  at  the  head  of  this  article,  known  to  Ameri- 


206  A    GAZETTEER 

cans  by  the  name,  Cave -in -rock,  was  long  the  rendez- 
vous of  a  class  of  beings,  far  more  formidable  and  dan- 
gerous to  the  whites,  than  the  Indian  Mon-e-toes. 

In  1797,  it  was  the  place  of  resort  and  security  to  Ma- 
son and  his  gang  of  robbers,  who  plundered  and  murder- 
ed the  crews  of  boats,  while  descending  the  Ohio.  It 
still  answers  as  a  temporary  residence  for  those  who  need 
shelter  while  on  the  river.  The  rock  is  limestone 
abounding  with  shells. 

The  following  description  of  this  cave  is  given  by 
Thaddeus  M.  Harris,  an  English  tourist,  made  in  the 
spring  of  1 S03,  a  writer  who  has  done  justice  to  the  west 
in  his  descriptions  generally. 

"For  about  three  or  four  miles  before  you  come  to 
this  place,  you  are  presented  with  ascene  truly  roman- 
tic. On  the  Illinois  side  of  the  river,  you  see  large, 
ponderous  rocks  piled  one  upon  another,  of  different  co- 
lors, shapes  and  sizes.  Some  appear  to  have  gone  through 
the  hands  of  the  most  skilful  artist;  some  represent  the 
ruins  of  ancient  edifices;  others  thrown  promiscuously 
in  and  out  of  the  river,  as  if  nature  intended  to  show  us 
with  what  e.ise  she  could  handle  those  moun  tains  of  solid 
rock.  In  some  places,  you  see  purling  streams  wind' 
ingtheir  course  down  their  rugged  front;  while  in  others, 
the  rocks  project  so  far,  that  thtyseern  almost  disposed 
to  leave  their  doubtful  situation!.  After  a  short  relief 
from  this  scene,  you  come  to  a  second,  which  is  some- 
thing similar  to  the  first;  and  here,  with  strict  scrutiny, 
you  can  discover  the  cave. 

"Before  its  mouth  stands  a  delightful  grove  of  cypress 
trees,  arranged  inruediately  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  207 

They  have  a  fine  appearance,  and  add  much  to  the  cheer- 
fulness of  the  place. 

"The  mouth  of  the  cave  is  but  a  few  feet  above  the  or- 
dinary level  of  the  river,  and  is  formed  by  a  serni  circu- 
lar arch  of  about  eighty  feet  at  its  base,  and  twenty-five 
feet  ia  height,  the  top  projecting  considerably  over, 
forming  a  regular  concave.  From  the  entrance  to  the 
extremity,  which  is  about  ISO  feet,  it  has  a  regular  and 
gradual  ascent.  On  either  side  is  a  solid  bench  of  rock; 
the  arch  coming  to  a  point  about  the  middle  of  the  cave, 
where  you  discover  an  opening  sufficiently  large  to  re- 
ceive the  body  of  a  man,  through  which  comes  a  small 
stream  of  fine  water,  made  use  of  by  those  who  visit 
this  place.  From  this  hole,  a  second  cave  is  discovered 
whose  dimensions,  form,  etc.  are  not  known.  The  rock 
is  of  lime  stone.  The  sides  of  the  cave  are  covered 
with  inscriptions,  names  of  persons,  dates;  etc."* 

The  trees  have  been  cut  down  and  the  entrance  into 
the  cave  exposed  to  view. 

Cedar  Creek,  in  Adams  county,  which  rises  in  one 
south,  eight  west,  runs  west,  and  enters  Boston  bay. 

A  sa.v  and  grist  mill  has  been  erected  on  this  stream 
and  the  land  contiguous  is  good. 

Cedar  Crcc!.,  ia  Johnson  county,  rises  in  the  north 
eastern  part,  xns  -south,  and  enters  Big  Bay  creek.  It 
has  large,  abriipi  birds,  covered  with  cedar,  and  a  settle- 
ment near  it. 

Ce.dur  Creel:,  a  branch  of  Big  Muddy  river,  in  Jackson 
county,  rises  in  Union  county,  and  runs  first  north,  and 

*  Harris's  Tour,  etc.  Boston,  1805. 


203  A  GAZETTEER 

then  a  western  course,  and  enters  Muddy  river  twelve 
miles  above  its  mouth.  This  creek  has  high  bluffs  to- 
wards its  mouth,  which  abound  with  cedar. 

The  country  is  broken,  timbered,  well  watered  with 
springs,  and  contains  about  one  hundred  families.  The 
main  settlement  is  six  miles  from  Brownsville. 

Cedar  Fork,  a  branch  of  Crooked  creek,  in  the  north 
west  corner  of  Schuyler  county,  runs  through  a  dry  and 
rather  hilly  tract  of  country. 

Cedar  Fork  of  Henderson  river-rises  in  the  great  prai- 
rie between  Henderson  and  Spoon  rivers,  and  takiug  a 
north  western  course,  enters  the  main  Henderson.  The 
land  along  its  borders  is  first  rate,  and  begins  to  receive 
^cultivation  from  an  industrious  settlement. 

Cetiterville,  called  also  "Virginia  Centerville,"  a  set- 
tlement at  the  intersection  of  the  base  line  of  the 
fourth  principal  meridian,  with  the  boundary  line  be- 
twixt A.dams  and  Schuyler  counties.  Excellent  prai- 
rie and  timbered  land,  undulating,  healthy,  and  watered 
:by  the  head  branches  of  McKee's  and  crooked  creeks. 

A  post  office  is  here  called  Daviston,  within  Schuyler 
«ounty,  twenty-five  miles  from  Rushville. 

Centcrville,  a  post  office,  and  the  former  seat  of  gov- 
ernment for  Wabash  county,  situated  five  miles  north 
west  from  Mount  Carmel. 

CHARLESTON,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Coles  county, 
is  situated  on  the  border  of  the  Grand  prairie,  two  and 
a  half  miles  from,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  Embarras 
river,  on  section  eleven,  township  twelve  north,  nine 
east.  The  surface  around  is  tolerably  level,  the  soil 
fertile,  and  the  settlements  already  considerable  will 


OF    ILLINOIS.  209 

will  soon  be  extensive.  It  has  three  stores,  three  gro- 
ceries, and  about  twenty-five  families.  It  was  laid  out 
in  1831,  and  the  first  sale  of  lots  took  place  in  that 
year. 

Cheney's  Grove,  a  settlement  near  the  head  waters  of 
the  Sangamon,  on  the  east  side  of  McLean  county, 
twenty-three  north,  six  east.  This  timber  is  an  island 
in  the  great  prairie,  of  three  or  four  square  miles,  twen- 
ty-five miles  east  of  Bloomington,  and  on  the  road  to 
Danville.  The  population  is  small. 

Cherry  Grove,  a  settlement  in  St.  Clair  county,  eight 
miles  north  easterly  from  Belleville,  with  a  dense  popu- 
lation. 

CHICAGO,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Cook  county,  is  situa- 
ted on  a  river  or  bay  of  the  same  name,  at  the  junction 
of  North  and  South  branches,  and  from  one  half  mile  to 
a  mile  from  lake  Michigan.  The  town  is  beautifully 
situated  on  level  ground,  but  sufficiently  elevated  above 
the  highest  floods,  and  on  both  sides  of  the  river. 

It  contains  three  houses  for  public  worship,  an  acade- 
my, an  infant  and  other  schools,  twenty-five  or  thirty 
stores,  many  of  them  doing  large  business,  several  ta- 
verns, mechanics  of  various  kinds,  a  printing  office, 
which  publishes  the  "  Chicago  Democrat ,"  and  ten  or 
twelve  hundred  inhabitants. 

Its  growth,  even  for  western  towns,  has  been  unusual- 
ly rapid,  as  two  years  since  it  contained  five  stores,  and 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants. 

The  United  States  government  is  constructing  a  har- 
bor at  the  mouth  of  the  Chicago,  by  cutting  a  wide  and 
deep  channel  thcough  a  sand  bar  at  its  mouth,  and  con- 
14 


210  A    GAZETTEER 

structing  piers  to  extend  into  the  lake  beyond  the  ac- 
tion of  the  winds  and  waves  upon  the  bar.  §25,000 
were  expended  last  year  for  this  purpose,  and  the  pre- 
sent congress  has  appropriated  an  additional  sum  of 
$32,801,  which,  added  to  the  previous  appropriation, 
makes  the  sum  of  the  original  estimate. 

When  this  work  is  completed,  the  Chicago  will  form 
one  of  the  best  harbors  for  steam  boats,  schooners,  and 
other  craft  in  all  the  lake  regions.  Steam  boats  and 
schooners  will  pass  along  a  deep  natural  canal  through 
the  centre  of  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  with  the  great- 
est convenience. 

These  facilities,  the  natural  position  of  the  place,  the 
enterprise  and  capital  that  will  concentrate  here,  with 
favorable  prospects  for  health,  must  soon  make  this  place 
the  emporium  of  trade  and  business  for  all  the  northern 
country. 

Back  of  the  town,  towards  the  Des  Plaines,  is  a  fer- 
tile prairie,  and  for  the  first  three  or  four  miles,  eleva- 
ted and  dry. 

Along  the  north  branch  of  the  Chicago,  and  the  lake 
shore,  are  extensive  bodies  of  fine  timber.  White  pine, 
in  small  quantities,  is  obtained  on  the  Calamic,  at  the 
south  end  of  the  lake,  fifteen  miles  distant.  Large 
quantities  exist  in  the  regions  towards  Green  bay,  from 
which  lumber  in  any  quantities  is  obtained  and  convey- 
ed by  shipping  to  Chicago.  Yellow  poplar  boards  and 
plank  are  brought  across  the  lake  from  the  St.  Joseph's 
river. 

The  mail,  in  post  coaches  from  Detroit,  arrives  here 
semi  weekly,  and  departs  for  Galena,  for  Springfield, 
Alton,  and  St.  Louis,  and  for  Danville,  and  Vincennes. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  21  I 

The  linked  States  government  owns  a  strip  of  ele- 
vated ground  between  the  town  and  lake,  about  half  a 
mile  in  width,  on  which  Fort  Dearborn  and  the  liglit 
house  are  situated.  Here  are  stationed  about  one  hun- 
dred United  States  troops,  including  officers,  as  a  check 
upon  the  Indians  in  the  adjacent  territory.  As  the  title 
to  the  Indian  lands  in  the  northern  part  of  Illinois  and 
the  adjoining  territory,  as  far  as  Green  bay,  is  extin- 
guished by  the  treaty  of  September,  1883,  and  the  In- 
dians are  to  be  removed  west  of  the  Mississippi,  this 
garrison  will  soon  be  broken  up,  and  the  town  be  ex- 
tended to  the  lake  shore. 

Such  was  the  eagerness  to  obtain  property  in  this 
place  that  the  school  section  adjacent  to  the  town  plat, 
after  reserving  twelve  acres,  was  sold  in  small  lots  last 
October,  for  $38,705. 

The  money  was  loaned  out  at  ten  and  twelve  per 
cent,  interest,  and  the  avails  applied  to  the  support  of 
schools  in  the  town. 

Chicago  is  situated  on  section  nine,  township  thirty- 
iiine  north,  in  range  fourteen  east  of  the  third  principal 
meridian. 

Chicago,  the  stream  or  bay  on  which  the  town  of  Chi- 
cago is  situated.  It  is  made  by  North  and  South  branch- 
es, which  form  a  junction  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town, 
about  three  fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  lake.  The  Chi- 
cago resembles  a  vast  canal,  from  fifty  to  seventy-five 
yards  wide,  and  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  feet  deep. 
Northerly  and  easterly  storms  throw  the  cool  waters  of 
the  lake  into  this  channel,  and  raise  it  about  three  feet. 

North  Branch,  which  is  the  largest,  rises  a  short  dis- 


212  A    GAZETTEER 

tance  above  the  boundary  line,  and  near  the  lake,  and 
runs  parallel  with  the  lake  shore  a  southerly  course,  and 
is  navigable  for  small  boats.  Its  banks  are  well  timber- 
ed, and  the  land  fertile. 

In  spring  floods,  its  waters,  in  one  or  two  places,  flow- 
across  the  prairie  and  commingle  with  those  of  Des 
Plaines. 

South  Branch  rises  in  an  opposite  direction,  in  the 
prairies  towards  the  Saganaskee  swamp,  runs  a  north- 
ern direction  about  twenty  miles,  and  forms  a  junction 
with  the  North  branch,  in  the  town  of  Chicago.  The 
timber  is  rather  scarce  on  South  branch. 

Chateau's  Island  is  in  the  Mississippi  river,  in  the 
south  western  part  of  Madison  county.  It  is  four  miles 
long,  and  a  mile  and  a  half  wide,  and  has  several  fami- 
lies and  farms  on  it.  In  extreme  high  floods  the  water 
of  the  river  nearly  covers  it. 

Christian  Settlement,  .see  Allison's  Prairie. 

Christy's  Prairie,  called  sometimes  Lewis's  Prairie,  is 
in  Lawrence  county,  ten  miles  west  of  Lawrenceville, 
moderately  rolling,  and  good  second  rate  land.  Popula" 
tion  150  families. 

Clary's  Grove  is  a  beautiful  tract  of  timber  and  flour- 
ishing settlement,  in  Sangamon  county,  eighteen  miles 
north  west  from  Springfield,  and  surrounded  with  ex- 
cellent prairie.  The  timber  is  three  or  four  miles  in  di- 
ameter, consisting  of  oaks,  sugar  maple,  walaut,  hicko- 
ry, linden,  elm,  locust,  and  various  other  species.  Cla- 
vry's  creek  issues  from  this  grove,  runs  ncrth  westerly, 
and  enters  the  Sangamon  river  near  the  corner  of  Mor- 
gan county. 


\ 
OF    ILLINOIS.  213 

Little  Grove  is  a  smaller  tract  contiguous  to  Clary's 
grove;  timber  and  prairie  of  the  same  quality. 

Clay  Creek  rises  in  the  prairies  in  the  north  eastern 
part  of  Morgan  county,  passes  through  two  lakes  in  the 
bottom,  and  enters  the  Illinois  river  below  Beardstown. 

Clay  Lick,  a  branch  of  Cedar  creek,  in  Union  county  . 
The  land  is  hilly,  and  heavily  timbered. 

Clay  Prairie,  in  Clark  county,  lies  west  from  Union 
Prairie^  and  eight  miles  south  west  from  Darwin.  It 
contains  a  largo  settlement. 

Clear  Creek,  a  small  stream  that  rises  in  the  prairies 
near  Paris,  Edgar  county,  and  leaving  the  county  at  its 
south  east  corner,  passes  across  a  strip  of  Indiana,  and 
enters  the  Wabash.  It  is  a  mill  stream,  and  the  land  on 
each  side  is  good. 

Clear  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Putnam  county,  ten 
miles  south  of  Hennepin.  Along  its  banks  are  fine  tim- 
ber, and  the  adjoining  prairies  are  excellent. 

Clear  Creek,  a  stream  that  rises  in  Union  county,  runs 
south,  and  enters  the  Mississippi  in  the  north  western 
part  of  Alexander  county.  One  branch  rises  in  the 
northern  part  of  Union,  the  other  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Jonesboro'. 

Clear  Creek,  in  Sangamon  county,  rises  in  the  prairies 
between  Salt  creek  and  the  North  Fork,  runs  a  south 
western  course,  and  enters  the  Sangamon  river  near  the 
junction  of  the  North  and  South  Forks.  This  is  a  good 
mill  stream;  the  country  on  its  borders  rather  level, 
timber  good,  considerable  prairie,  and  a  population  of 
200  or  300  families. 

Clear  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Morgan  county,  that 


214  A    GAZETTEER 

passes  through  the  narrows  and  enters  the  Illinois  river 
below  Beardstown. 

Clear  Lake,  an  expansion  of  water  in  the  American 
bottom,  St.  Glair  county,  about  ten  miles  westerly  from 
Belleville. 

Clendening's  Settlement,  in  Greene  county,  six  miles 
south  west  of  Carrollton. 

Clifton,  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  four  miles 
above  Alton.  Here  is  a  landing1,  a  steam  saw  mill,  an 
excellent  free  stone  quarry,  and  a  quarry  of  water  ce- 
ment lime  stone. 

Clinton  Hill  is  three  miles  north  of  Belleville,  in  St. 
Clair  county,  and  the  residence  of  John  Messenger,  esq. 
It  is  an  elevated  timbered  tract,  containing  some  ex- 
cellent springs,  and  a  valuable  stone  quarry.  The  Rich- 
land  Baptist  church  have  their  house  of  worship  here. 

Coal  Banks,  in  the  bluffs  of  St.  Clair  county,  east  side 
of  the  American  bottom,  and  seven  miles  from  St.  Louis 
ferry. 

Several  beds  have  been  opened  along  the  bluffs,  with- 
in three  miles.  The  coal  is  bituminous,  burns  well,  and 
appears  to  be  inexhaustible.  About  150,000  bushels  are 
now  taken  to  St.  Louis  annually,  and  the  demand  for  it 
is  rapidly  increasing. 

Coal  Creek,  in  Schuyler  county,  heads  near  Crane 
creek,  runs  east,  and  enters  the  Illinois,  four  miles 
above  Beardstown. 

Cochra/i's  Grove,  a  post  office  and  settlement  in  Shel- 
by county,  ten  miles  east  of  Shelbyville. 

Coffee  Creek,  an  inconsiderable  stream  in  Wabash 
county,  that  enters  the  Wabash  river,  six  miles  below 


OF    ILLINOIS.  215 

Mount  Carmel.  A  settlement  of  the  same  name  is 
along;  its  course.  It  is  a  timbered  country,  undulating, 
and  broken. 

Cold  Prairie  is  in  the  American  bottom,  in  St.  Clair 
county,  on  the  road  from  St.  Louis  to  Belleville. 

Cold  Spring  Settlement  and  post  office,  is  in  Shelby 
county,  on  the  road  from  Vandalia  to  Shelbyville, 
twelve  miles  south  of  the  latter  place.  The  land  is  se- 
cond rate,  and  proportioned  into  timber  and  prairie. 
^This  was  formerly  called  Wakefield'' s  Settlement. 

CollinsvUle,  a  village,  post  office,  and  settlement,  in 
the  south  part  of  Madison  county. 

Here  is  a  store,  a  large  mill  for  sawing  and  grinding, 
and  several  mechanics.  A  meeting  house  and  Presby- 
terian church  of  fifty  members,  a  large  Sabbath  school, 
and  a  body  of  sober,  moral,  and  industrious  citizens, 
render  this  an  interesting  settlement. 

Columbia,  a  town  site  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Illinois 
river,  in  Putnam  county,  twenty  miles  below  Hennepin, 
adjoining  ^trawn's  settlement. 

Columbo  creek  rises  in  Perry  county,  runs  a  south  east 
course,  and  enters  Big  Beaucoup,  in  Jackson  county. 

Columbus, .a.  town  site  in  Randolph  county,  near  the 
Flat  prairie,  eighteen  miles  east  of  Kaskaskia,  on  sec- 
tion one,  five  south,  six  west.  Here  is  an  academy,  in- 
tended as  the  foundation  of  Union  college,  which  was 
incorporated  at  the  last  session  of  the  legislature. 

The  post  office  is  called  "Shannon's  Store." 
Compton's  Prairie,  in  Wabash  county,  twelve  miles 
west  of  Mount  Carmel.    This  is  a  small,  rich,  level  prai- 
rie, inclined  to  be  wet,  and  has   twenty-five  or  thirty 
families. 


216  A    GAZETTEER 

Concord,  a  post  office  and  settlement,  sometimes  call- 
ed "Slocumb's,"  in  White  county,  between  the  Little 
and  big  Wabash,  below  Big  prairie. 

Coonsville,  a  small  creek  and  settlement,  on  the  south 
side  of  Apple  creek,  in  Greene  county,  and  six  miles 
north  west  from  Carrollton. 

Coop's  creek,  a  branch  of  the  Macoupen,  in  Macoupen 
county.  It  rises  in  the  prairies  towards  the  head  of  Ca- 
hokia  creek,  runs  a  north  westerly  course,  and  enters 
the  main  stream  below  the  forks.  Timber  and  prairie, 
undulating  and  rich. 

Copperas  creek,  in  Fulton  county,  towards  the  eastern 
part.  It  rises  near  Canton,  runs  a  south  eastern  course, 
and  enters  the  Illinois  river  in  six  north,  five  east. 
Much  of  it  is  a  timbered  tract;  some  good  prairie,  and 
a  large  settlement. 

Cottonberger's  Settlement,  on  Salt  creek,  in  the  north 
west  part  of  Macon  county,  eighteen  miles  north  from 
Decatur. 

Cotton  Hill  Prairie,  is  in  Sangamon  county,  between 
South  Fork  and  -Horse  creek,  twelve  miles  south  of 
Springfield. 

Court  creek  runs  through  Knox  county,  from  north 
west  to  south  east,  and  enters  Spoon  river. 

Comngton  was  formerly  the  seat  of  justice  of  Wash- 
ington county,  but  after  its  division  in  forming  Clinton, 
this  place  was  left  in  the  north  west  corner  of  the  coun- 
ty, and  now  contains  half  a  dozen  families.  It  is  situa- 
ted on  the  left  bank  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  in  section 
thirty-three,  township  one  north,  three  west.  Should 
the  contemplated  improvements  of  the  Kaskaskia  river 


OF    ILLINOIS.  217 

be  carried  forward  so  as  to  be  navigated  by  steam,  Co- 
vington  may  become  a  place  of  some  importance. 

It  is  fourteen  miles  from  Nashville. 

Cownover's  Branch,  in  Morgan  county,  rises  at  the 
head  of  Jersey  prairie,  and  enters  Indian  creek  near 
Smart's  mill. 

Cox's  Grove,  a  small  body  of  timber  on  the  line  of  Mor- 
gan and  Sangamon  counties. 

Cox's  Prairie,  north  east  of  Brownsville,  in  Jackson 
county,  near  Big  Beaucoup,  contains  about  four  sections 
of  good  rolling  land. 

Crab  Orchard,  a  small  creek  that  rises  in  the  south 
part  of  Franklin  county,  passes  into  Jackson,  and  en- 
ters the  Big  Muddy,  fifteen  miles  above  Brownsville. 
The  country  adjoining  is  level  and  good,  and  the  settle- 
ment has  forty  or  fifty  families. 

Crawfish  creek,  a  small  stream  in  Wabash  county,  that 
enters  the  Wabash  river  six  miles  above  Mount  Carmel. 
The  adjacent  country  is  sterile  and  broken. 

Crawford's  creek  is  an  insignificant,  stream  in  Adams 
county,  containing  excellent  land  and  timber.  It  en- 
ters the  south  prong  of  Bear  creek. 

Crane  creek,  a  small  stream  in  Schuyler  county,  which 
rises  near  Rushville,  runs  south  through  a  timbered  re- 
gion, and  enters  the  Illinois  a  few  yards  above  the 
mouth  of  Crooked  creek. 

Crane  creek,  a  trifling  stream  that  enters  the  Sanga- 
mon river  from  the  north  side,  below  Miller's  ferry. 

Crane  creek*  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  rises  near  the 
south  fork  of  Plum  creek,  runs  west,  then  south,  and 
enters  Rock  river  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  below  Dixon's 


218  A  GAZETTEER 

ferry,  near  the  foot  of  the  second  rapids.  Its  length  is 
about  twenty-five  miles.  The  timber  near^it  is  in  groves , 
and  the  country  generally  the  finest  for  farming  pur- 
poses. It  is  a  good  mill  stream. 

Crooked  creek,  on  the  military  tract,  from  its  size, 
length,  and  number  of  its  branches,  should  be  called  a 
river:  but  it  is  not  our  province  to  make  or  alternames. 
The  term  "creek"  is  applied  to  this  stream  on  the 
maps,  and  in  the  vocabulary  of  the  country.  It  rises 
m  numerous  branches  in  -McDonough  and  Hancock 
counties,  and  near  the  borders  of  Warren,  runs  a  south- 
ern course  through  McDonough  and  Schuyler  counties, 
and  enters  the  Illinois  in  section  thirteen,  one  south, 
one  west,  six  miles  below  Beardstown.  It  can  easily 
be  made  navigable  some  distance.  No  better  land  can 
be  found  in  Illinois  than  the  country  in  general  watered 
by  this  stream;  and  the  many  small  tributaries  empty- 
ing into  it  from  the  east  and  west  not  only  afford  many 
mill  seats, but  apportion  the  timber  and  prairie  so  near- 
ly equal  as  to  reader  almost  every  tract  capable  of  im- 
mediate settlement.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  much  of 
the  land  in  this  section  of  the  country  is  owned  by  non 
residents,  and  that  it  is  held  at  prices  much  too  high  to 
suit  the  circumstances  of  settlers,  on  the  relative  value 
of  land  in  this  state. 

The  country  generally  on  Crooked  creek  is  gently 
undulating,  dry  soil,  inexhaustibly  rich,  and  where  tim- 
ber exists  it  is  of  excellent  quality.  Here  are  found 
oaks  of  different  species,  walnut,  sugar  maple,  linden, 
hackberry,  hickory,  cherry,  honey  locust,  mulberry, 
elm,  ash,  and  various  other  growth  common  to  the  state. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  219 

The  soil  is  an  argillaceous  mould,  from  one  to  four  feet 
deep.  Near  the  mouth  of  Crooked  creek  is  an  extensive 
bottom  on  the  Illinois,  inundated  in  high  water,  hut  af  • 
fording,an  extensive  range  for  stock  during  the  great- 
est part  of  the  year. 

Bituminous  coal  is  found  in  great  abundance  alom>; 
this  stream  and  its  tributaries,  with  several  quarries  of 
free  stone. 

Crooked  Creek,  in  Marion  county,  rises  in  the  Grand 
prairie  near  Salem,  runs  a  south  westerly  course,  and 
enters  the  Kaskaskia  river  above  Covington. 

Crooked  Creek,  an  insignificant  stream  and  branch  of 
the  Little  W abash,  in  White  county,  eight  miles  above 
Carmi. 

It  is  a  timbered  region,  and  the  settlement  is  large. 

Crosiers  Landing,  on  the  Illinois  river,  in  La  Sallo 
county,  one  mile  below  the  foot  of  the  rapids. 

Crow  Creek  rises  in  the  north  part  of  McLean  coun- 
ty, passes  through  the  southwestern  part  of  La  Salle, 
and  enters  the  Illinois  river  in  Putnam  county  belo'.v 
Hennepin. 

There  is  a  fine  skirt  of  timber  and  much  good  prairie 
along  its  borders. 

Crow  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Putnam  county  that  en- 
ters the  Illinois  river  from  the  west  side.  It  rises  in 
Crow  grove,  (Boyd's)  and  runs  an  east  course. 

Crow  Grove,  or-Boyd's  settlement,  forty  miles  above 
Peoria,  on  the  stage  road  to  Galena.  It  is  a  beautiful 
tract  of  country,  in  fourteen  north,  eight  east  from  the 
fourth  principal  meridian,  and  thirteen  miles  west  of 
Hennepin. 


220  A    GAZETTEER 

Crow  Prairie  lies  near  the  Illinois  river,  in  Putnam 
county,  on  the  east  side,  twelve  miles  below  Hennepin. 
It  is  six  miles  long  and  three  miles  wide,  good  soil,  and 
timber  around  it. 

Crow  Prairie  is  in  Putnam  county, en  the  west  side  of 
the  Illinois  river.  It  is  twelve  miles  long,  four  miles 
wide,  and  dry,  rich,  farming  land. 

Cutler's  Settlement,  in  Coles  county,  eight  miles  north 
east  from  Charleston,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Embarras. 
The  soil,  both  of  the  timbered  land  and  prairie,  is  good, 
and  the  settlement  contains  from  forty  to  fifty  families. 

Cypress,  a  sluggish  creek  in  Gallatin  county,  between 
Equality  and  Shawneetown,  which  runs  into  the  Saline 
creek. 

The  land  in  the  vicinity  is  generally  good  and  heavily 
timbered. 

DANVILLE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Vermilion  county,  is 
situated  near  the  Vermilion  river  of  the  \Arabash,  on 
section  eight,  in  township  nineteen  north,  and  in  range 
eleven  west  from  the  second  principal  meridian. 

It  is  on  a  dry,  sandy,  and  elevated  surface,  surround- 
ed with  heavy  timber  on  the  east,  north,  and  west,  but 
open  to  the  prairie  on  the  south. 

It  has  six  stores,  three  groceries,  two  taverns,  three 
lawyers,  two  physicians,  various  mechanics,  a  public 
land  office  for  this  district,  and  a  printing  office  from 
which  issues  weekly  the  "Danville  Enquirer." 

The  Methodist,  Baptist,  and  Presbyterians  each  have 
congregations.  There  are  about  fifty  or  sixty  families. 
The  country  around  is  populous,  and  rich  land. 

DARWIN,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Clark  county.    It  is  sit- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  221 

uated  on  the  Wabash,  in  section  twenty-seven,  ten  nortb, 
eleven  west  from  the  second  principal  meridian,  adjoin- 
ing Walnut  prairie,  and  contains  about  twenty  families. 

Daviston  Post  Office  is  at  the  place  where  the  base 
line  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian  crosses  the  dividing 
line  of  Adams  and  Schuyler  counties,  twenty-five  miles 
south  of  west  from  Rushville  on  the  road  to  Quincy. 

Dawson's  Grove,  called  sometimes  "Old  Town  Timber," 
in  McLean  county,  twelve  miles  east  from  Bloomington, 
and  at  the  heads  of  Kickapoo  and  Salt  creek,  in  twenty- 
three  north,  and  three  and  four  east.  The  road  from 
Pekin  to  Danville  passes  through  this  grove.  It  is  long, 
and  intersected  with  some  barrens.  Timber  princi- 
pally oak  with  some  sugar  maple.  The  prairie  around  it 
is  very  rich. 

Dead  Man's  Grove,  in  Coles  county,  six  miles  west  of 
Charleston.  It  is  almost  circular,  about  two  miles  in 
diameter,  and  contains  three  or  four  sections  of  indif- 
ferent timber,  surrounded  with  a  rich  and  undulating 
prairie,  and  is  monopolized  by  two  or  three  families.  It 
receives  its  name  from  the  circumstance  of  a  man  pe- 
rishing here  with  cold  several  years  since.  The  old 
Kickapoo  towns  were  adjoining  this  grove. 

Deaton's  Mill,  one  of  the  first  settlements  in  Morgan 
county,  on  the  Mauvaiseterre,  three  miles  north  west 
from  Jacksonville.  Here  is  a  steam  mill,  and  a  large 
and  flourishing  settlement. 

Deausaix,  a  trifling  stream,  and  branch  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia  river,  in  the  south  eastern  part  of  St.  Clair 
county. 

Decker's  Prairie,  a  small  tract  of  second  rate,  undnla- 


222  A    GAZETTEER 

ling  land,  in  Wabash  county,  twelve  miles  north  east 
from  Mount  Carmel,  with  about  twenty-five  families. 

DECATCR,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Macon  county,  is  situ- 
ated on  the  west  side  of  the  North  Fork  of  Sangamon 
'river,  and  on  the  borders  of  an  extensive  prairie.  1 1  is 
on  the  north  east  quarter  of  section  fifteen,  in  sixteen 
north,  two  east  from  the  third  principal  meridian.  It 
is  dry,  elevated,  and  bids  fair  for  health.  The  country 
around  is  elevated,  rich,  and  has  a  fine  settlement. 

Decatur  has  three  stores,  several  mechanics  and 
about  thirty  families. 

JJes  Plaines  River  [Riviere  des  Plaines,  Fr.]  rises  in 
the  Wisconsin  territory,  a  few  miles  above  the  bounda- 
ry line  of  Illinois,  and  about  six  miles  from  lake  Michi- 
gan. It  runs  a  south  course,  generally  over  a  bed  of 
iime  stone  rock,  and  forms  one  of  the  prominent  branch- 
es of  the  Illinois  river,  by  its  junction  with  the  Kanka- 
kee. 

Groves  of  timber  are  found  on  its  banks,  and  inter- 
spersed through  the  vast  "prairie  region.  The  country 
along  its  borders  is  rapidly  populating,  notwithstanding 
the  apparent  deficiency  of  timber. 

In  many  places  along  the  Des  Plaines  rock  may  be 
easily  obtained  both  for  fencing  and  building.  The 
country  is  well  watered,  the  streams  perennial,  and  the 
soil  rich,  and  covered  with  luxuriant  herbage.  It  is  fre- 
quently written  and  pronounced  Aux  Plaines t  or  Anglice 
O'P/ane. 

Devil's  Anvil  is  a  singular  rock,  of  considerable  ele- 
vation, and  the  top  jutting  over  its  base,  near  the  road 
from  Equality  to  Golconda.  The  surrounding  country  is 


OF    ILLINOIS.  223 

very  hilly,  with  rocky  precipices,  and  exhibits  all  the 
desolation  and  wildness  of  a  mountainous  region. 

Devil's  Oveiiis  a  singular  promontory  of  sand  rock  that 
projects  into  the  Mississippi,  in  Jackson  county,  one 
mile  above  the  Grand  Tower.  It  has  a  cave  resembling 
the  mouth  of  a  mammoth  oven,  to  be  seen  from  the  river. 

Diamond  Grove,  a  most  beautiful  tract  of  timber  in 
Morgan  county,  two  miles  southwest  from  Jacksonville, 
It  is  elevated  above  the  surrounding  prairie,  and  con- 
tains 700  or  800  acres,  and  surrounded  with  beautiful 

farms. 

Diamond  Grove  Prairie,  in  Morgan  county,  south,  and 
adjacent  to  Jacksonville.  It  is  four  miles  in  extent, 
rich  soil,  undulating,  dry  surface,  and  mostly  covered 
over  with  fine  farms. 

Dickerson's  Lake  is  in  the  Illinois  bottom,  in  Morgan 
county,  near  the  bluffs. 

Dillard's  is  a  large  settlement  in  Gallatin  county, 
eight  miles  north  west  of  Shawneetown.  The  land  ge- 
nerally is  good. 

Dixon's  Ferry  and  post  office,  on  Rock  river,  on  the 
stage  road  from  Peoria  to  Galena. 

The  country  around  is  excellent,  but  there  is  a  defi- 
ciency of  timber  fordense  settlements.  Formerly  call- 
ed O' Gee's  Ferry. 

Dolson's  Prairie  is  on  the  west  side  of  Clark  county, 
six  miles  wide,  and  twice  as  long,  level,  considerably 
wet,  and  a  rather  thin  and  clay  soil. 

Donohue's  Settlement  is  in  the  north  east  corner  of  Jef- 
ferson county,  on  Adams's  creek,  ten  miles  from  Mount 
Vernon.  It  is  mostly  a  timbered  tract,  and  has  twenty 
or  thirty  families. 


224  A    GAZETTEER 

Downing^  Settlement,  in  Bond  county,  nine  miles  south 
of  Greenville.  It  is  on  the  waters  of  Beaver  creek,  and 
is  well  furnished  with  timber  and  prairie. 

Drewry's  Creek,  a  branch  of  Crab  Orchard.  It  rises 
in  Union  county,  runs  a  devious  course  north  easterly 
into  Jackson  county,  and  has  a  settlement  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  families.  The  land  timbered,  and  second  rate 
soil. 

Driftwood,  a  post  office  in  Iroquois  county,  on  the 
road  from  Danville  to  Chicago. 

Drowning  Fork,  in  McDonough  county.  It  rises  in 
the  prairies  six  north,  one  west,  runs  a  south  western 
course,  and  uniting  with  other  branches,  forms  Crooked 
creek.  It  has  a  large  body  of  excellent  timber,  sur- 
rounded with  extensive  prairies. 

Dry  Fork,  a  small  stream  in  Macoupen,  county.  It 
rises  towards  Cahokia  creek,  runs  a  north  westerly 
course,  and  enters  the  Macoupen  above  the  forks. 

Dry  Fork,  a  branch  of  Shoal  creek,  in  the  north  west 
part  of  Bond  county. 

Dry  Grove  is  a  timbered  tract  in  McLean  county,  in 
twenty-four  north,  one  east,  six  miles  north  of  west 
from  Bloomington,  and  lies  at  the  head  of  Sugar  creek. 
It  is  about  ten  miles  long,  from  east  to  west,  high,  dry, 
and  undulating,  and  contains  a  settlement  of  about  fifty 
families. 

Dry  Point,  a  small  branch  of  Lake  Fork  of  the  Ma- 
coupen. The  head  of  the  timber  is  well  known  on  the 
old  road  from  Edwardsville  to  Springfield,  and  is  in  nine 
north,  six  west,  nine  miles  south  east  from  Carlinville. 

Duck  Grove,  a  small  body  of  timber  north  of  Holder- 
man's  grove,  in  La  Salle  county. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  225 

Dudley's  Settlement,  in  Coles  county,  seven  or  eight 
miles  east  from  Charleston. 

Including  RichwoocTs,  a  fine  body  of  timber  south,  it  is 
an  excellent  tract  of  country,  and  contains  more  than 
120  families. 

Duncanton,  a  post  office  in  Mantua  settlement,  in  the 
south  western  part  of  White  county,  on  the  mail  road 
from  McLeansboro'  to  Shawneetown. 

Dunwoody's  Mill  is  on  Indian  creek,  Morgan  county, 
eight  miles  north  of  Jacksonville. 

Du  Page,  [Riviere  du  Page,  Fr.]  a  beautiful  stream  in 
Cook  county.  It  rises  in  two  forks,  which  unite  in  the 
settlement  of  Fountaindale.  One  fork  rises  near  the 
Des  Plaines,  and  runs  a  western  course,  and  forms  a 
junction  with  the  other  fork,  which  rises  towards  Fox 
river.  After  the  junction  it  runs  a  south  western  course 
through  groves  and  prairies,  and  enters  the  Des  Plains 
three  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Kankakee. 
There  are  large  settlements  on  this  stream  at  Walker's 
grove  and  Fountaindale. 

Dutch  Church  Creek,  in  Pike  county,  takes  its  name 
from  a  bluff  of  a  singular  shape  resembling  one  of  the 
antiquated  buildings  of  New  York  in  Knickerbocker's 
days.  It  rises  in  the  interior,  and  enters  Snicartee, 

Dutchman's  Creek,  a  small  branch  of  Cash  river,  in 
Johnson  county.  The  land  on  this  creek  is  excellent, 
and  the  settlement  extensive. 

Dutch  Hill,  a  settlement  in  the  south  east  part  of  St. 
Clair  county,  and  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  river.     The 
land  is  good,  and  a  mixture  of  timber  and  prairie. 
Dutch  Settlement,  in  Union  county,  lies  south  and  in 
15 


226  A   GAZETTEER 

the  vicinity  of  Jonesboro'.     The  land  is  good,  rolling 
and  well  timbered.     The  settlement  contains  probably 
200  families  and  is  watered  by  Clear  creek. 

Eaton's  Mill  is  noticed  as  the  name  of  a  settlement  in 
Jasper  county,  near  Crawford,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
North  Fork  of  the  Embarras. 

Eagle  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Gallatin  county.  It 
rises  in  the  interior,  runs  south,  and  enters  the  Saline 
creek  near  its  mouth.  Some  broken,  and  some  good 
land,  and  a  large  settlement  are  on  this  stream. 

Eagle  Creek,  or  L'Aigle  creek,  in  Monroe  county;  see 
Fountain  creek. 

East  Fork  of  Cash  River  rises  in  Johnsoa  county, 
twelve  south,  three  east,  runs  south  by  Vincennes,  and 
enters  the  main  stream  below  the  "Scatters  of  Cash.''' 
The  land  on  this  stream  is  excellent.  The  timber  con- 
sists of  cypress,  cedar,  walnut,  oaks  of  various  species, 
etc- 

East  Fork  ofKaskaskia  River  rises  en  the  north  side  of 
Marion  county,  near  the  waters  of  the  Little  Wabash, 
runs  west  along  the  north  part  of  Marion,  crosses  the 
north  east  corner  of  Clinton,  and  enters  the  Kaskaskia, 
in  the  south  west  corner  of  Fayette  county.  It  has  a 
heavy  body  of  excellent  timber  on  its  banks;  the  prai- 
ries adjoining  are  undulating  and  rich,  and  the  settle- 
ments along  this  water  course  are  extensive. 

East  Fork  of  Shoal  Creek,  a  stream  and  a  settlement  in 
the  eastern  part  of  Montgomery  county.  The  stream 
rises  in  a  large  prairie  in  the  northern  portion  of  the 
county,  runs  south  westwardly,  and  enters  the  main 
creek  near  the  south,  side  of  JBond  county.  The  settle- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  227 

merit  extends  along  the  timber  which  lines  its  banks, 
and  the  land  is  tolerably  level  and  fertile. 

East  Fork  of  Silver  Creek  rises  in  the  north  eastern 
part  of  Madison  county,  and  unites  with  the  West  or 
main  fork  a  short  distance  below  the  Marine  settle- 
ment. 

Edmondson's  Prairie,  in  McDonough  county,  six  miles 
south  west  from  Macomb,  is  from  one  to  two  miles  wide, 
ten  miles  long,  and  contains  twenty-five  or  thirty  fami- 
lies. 

EDWARDSVILLE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Madison  coun- 
ty, is  situated  on  sections  two,  three,  and  eleven,  cf 
township  four  north,  in  range  eight  west  of  the  third 
principal  meridian,  twenty-one  miles  north  east  from 
St.  Louis,  on  the  Springfield  road,  and  twelve  miles 
south  east  from  Alton.  It  has  a  court  house  and  jail  of 
brick,  aland  office  for  Edwardsville  district,  four  stores, 
two  taverns,  two  physicians,  four  lawyers,  a  castor  oil 
factory,  various  mechanics,  and  about  seventy  families. 
Here  is  also  a  female  academy  taught  by  a  lady,  and  a 
commodious  building.  The  Baptists  and  Methodists 
each  have  houses  of  worship.  The  inhabitants  are  ge- 
nerally industrious,  intelligent,  moral,  and  a  large  pro- 
portion professors  of  religion. 

The  location  of  Edwardsville  is  pleasant,  on  high 
ground,  healthy,  and  in  the  centre  of  a  fertile,  well  wa- 
tered, and  well  timbered  country,  settled  with  enter- 
prising farmers.  It  is  in  latitude  thirty-eight  degrees 
forty-five  minutes  north. 

Edwards's  Settlement  is  in  the  north  part  of  Pike  coun- 
ty, on  McRaney's  creek. 


228  A    GAZETTEER 

Edwards's  River  rises  in  the  prairies  of  Henry  county, 
fifteen  north,  four  east,  runs  west  through  Mercer  coun- 
ty, where  it  turns  south  and  enters  the  Mississippi  near 
the  Upper  Yellow  Banks.  The  country  on  this  river  is 
undulating,  the  timber  in  skirts  and  groves,  the  prairies 
large,  and  a  supply  of  good  water. 

Eight  Mile  Prairie,  in  the  south  west  corner  of  Frank- 
lin county,  eighteen  miles  south  west  from  Frankfort, 
level,  and  has  a  dense  population.  It  is  from  one  to  two 
miles  in  diameter. 

Ellis's  Mill)  on  Spoon  river,  in  Fulton  county,  in  sec- 
tion thirty-two,  eight  north,  two  east. 
,  A  large  prairie  lies  west.     The  land  on  the  river  is 
rather  broken  and  timbered. 

Situation   twenty  miles  north  west  from  Lewistown. 

Ellison,  a  small  stream  that  rises  in  the  prairies  of 
Warren  county,  runs  west,  and  enters  the  Mississippi 
six  miles  below  Henderson  river.  It  has  a  fine  settle- 
ment, and  a  rich  body  of  land  on  its  banks. 

Elkheart  Grove,  in  Sangamon  county,  north  of  San- 
gamon  river,  and  about  twenty  miles  north  east  from 
Springfield,  in  eighteen  north,  three  west.  It  is  a  beau- 
tiful grove  of  timber,  containing  six  or  seven  hundred 
acres,  on  the  right  hand  of  the  great  road  leading  to 
Peoria,  Ottawa,  and  Chicago.  The  timber  is  oalf,  wal- 
nut, linden,  hickory,  sugar  tree,  etc. 

The  prairie  adjoining  is  rich  soil,  rather  wet,  and  fur- 
nishes fine  summer  and  winter  range  for  Cattle. 

Several  families  are  settled  here. 

Elkhorn,  a  stream  that  rises  in  Washington  county, 
south  of  Nashville,  runs  north  west,  and  enters  the  Kas- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  229 

kaskia  river.  The  country  on  its  borders  is  tolerably 
level,  and  has  a  large  settlement. 

Elkhorn  Grove  is  in, Jo  Daviess  county,  west  of  Buf- 
falo grove.  It  is  nine  miles  long,  and  from  one  to  three 
miles  wide*  A  beautiful  prairie  surrounds  it,  and  Elk- 
horn  creek  passes  through  it. 

Elkhorn  Creek,  in  Jo  Daviess  county.  It  rises  near 
Red  Oak  grove,  passes  through  Elkhorn  grove,  runs 
south  west,  and  enters  Rock  river  twenty  miles  below 
Dixon's  ferry. 

Here  is  a  beautiful  country,  and  the  timber  in  groves. 

Elk  Prairie  lies  between  the  little  Muddy  and  Beau- 
coup  creeks,  in  Perry  county,  and  is  about  five  miles  in 
extent.  It  is  dry  and  tolerably  level;  soil  second  rate, 
and  the  settlement  contains  about  twenty-five  families. 

Elm  River,  a  branch  of  the  Little  Wabash.  It  rises 
in  two  heads,  in  the  Twelve  Mile  prairie,  in  Clay  coun- 
ty, north  of  the  Vincennes  road,  and  taking  a  south 
eastern  direction,  enters  the  Little  Wabash  in  Wayne 
county.  The  west  branch  of  Elm  river  bears  the  name 
of  Racoon  creek. 

Embarras  River,  (pronounced  Embroy  in  Fr.)  a  con- 
siderable stream  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  It 
rises  in  Champaign  county,  eighteen  north,  nine  east, 
near  the  sources  of  the  Kaskaskia,  the  two  Vermilions, 
and  the  Sangamon  rivers.  It  runs  south  through  Coles 
county,  receives  several  smaller  streams,  enters  Jas- 
per, turns  south  east  across  a  corner  of  Crawford, 
passes  through  Lawrence  county,  and  enters  the  big 
Wabash  about  six  miles  below  Vincennes.  The  coun- 
try on  the  Embarras  is  various,  though  there  is  much 


£30  A  GAZETTEER 

good  land.  Towards  its  head  the  prairie  greatly  predo 
minates,  the  timber  being  in  groves,  and  narrow  strips, 
along  its  banks.  In  Coles  county,  north  of  Charleston , 
the  timber  is  from  two  to  six  miles  wide.  Below  that 
place  it  gradually  widens  to  the  distance  of  eight  or  ten 
miles. 

It  consists  of  the  various  qualities  common  on  this 
side  of  the  state.  Generally  the  prairies  through  which 
it  flows  are  second  rate  for  more  than  half  its  length 
from  its  mouth.  Its  bottoms  are  inundated  in  very  high 
floods.  The  main  stream  and  its  branches  afford  many 
good  mill  seats.  From  the  vicinity  of  Lawrenceville  to 
Vincennes,  in  high  freshets,  the  Embarras  and  big  Wa- 
bash  unite  their  waters  and  spread  over  the  country  for 
seven  or  eight  miles  in  extent.  Hence,  from  this  oc- 
casional obstruction  to  traveling  on  the  old  "  Vincennes 
trace"  as  the  obscure  path  through  the  prairies  to  Kas- 
kaskia  was  then  called,  the  early  French  explorers 
gave  the  name  "jEw&arras"  to  this  stream. 

Embarras^  a  town  site  in  Coles  county,  one  half  mile 
east  of  the  Embarras  river,  at  the  junction  of  the  na- 
tional road  and  the  road  from  Palestine  to  Shelbyville, 
twenty  miles  south  of  Charleston,  and  fifty-two  miles 
east  of  Vandalia.  Good  springs  of  water,  high,frich, 
undulating  prairie,  and  abundance  of  fine  timber  are 
said  to  belong  to  the  conveniences  of  this  location. 

Embarras  Settlement,  in  Coles  county.  I  have  given 
this  name  to  an  extensive  tract  of  country  thinly  popu- 
lated, extending  along  the  west  side  of  the  Embarras, 
and  north  of  Charleston.  The  quality  of  the  land  is  on 
a.  medium  with  the  rest  of  Coles  county.  South  of 


OF    ILLINOIS.  231 

Charleston,  and  on  the  same  side,  the  country  is  thinly 
settled. 

English  Settlement  is  in  Morgan  county,  west  of  Jack- 
sonville, on  Cad  well's,  Walnut,  and  Plum  creeks.  There 
are  about  one  hundred  families,  mostly  from  Yorkshire, 
England,  and  farmers.  They»appear  to  be  well  pleased 
with  the  country,  and  to  be  accumulating  property. 

English  Settlement,  in  the  east  part  of  Monroe  county, 
is  on  Prairie  de  Long  creek,  in  township  three  south, 
eight  west.  It  contains  about  forty  families,  amongst 
whom  are  a  number  of  English  Catholics. 

EQUALITY,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Gallatin  county,  si- 
tuated on  the  east  side  of  Saline  creek,  on  section  fif- 
teen, liine  south,  eight  east.  It  has  nine  stores,  four 
groceries,  two  taverns,  a  brick  court  house  forty  feet 
square,  two  stories  high,  and  neatly  finished,  a  number 
of  mechanics  of  different  trades,  and  about  seventy  or 
eighty  families.  It  is  situated  in  the  vicinity  of  the  salt 
manufactories,  fourteen  miles  south  of  Shawneetown. 

The  adjacent  country  south  and  west  is  broken  and 
rough;  north  and  east  is  much  good  land. 

Elvira  Settlement,  in  Johnson  county,  on  Lick  creek,  a 
branch  of  Cash  river.  It  is  about  fifteen  miles  north 
west  from  Vienna,  and  contains  thirty  or  forty  families. 
The  land  is  rich  and  level. 

Essex's  Settlement,  in  the  forks  of  Spoon  river,  in  tihe 
western  part  of  Putnam  county,  townships  twelve  and 
thirteen  north,  in  range  six  east  from  the  fourth  princi- 
pal meridian.  The  surface  is  undulating,  excellent 
timber,  rich  prairie,  good  water,  stone  quarries,  a  saw 
and  grist  mill,  and  about  fifty  families.  The  post  office 
is  called  Spoon-river, 


232  A    GAZETTEER 

Estes's  Prairie,  in  Franklin  county,  fourteeen  miles 
north  of  Frankfort,  is  level,  dry,  and  has  a  thin  popula- 
tion on  its  border^. 

Evan's  Settlement,  on  the  north  side,  and  near  the  head 
of  Cash  river,  and  on  the  eastern  border  of  Union  coun- 
ty. It  has  about  forty  families. 

EWINGTON,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Effingham  county,  is 
situated  on  the  national  road,  twenty-nine  miles  from 
Vandalia,  in  a  north  eastern  direction,  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  Little  Wabash  river,  and  on  section  five,  seven 
north,  five  east.  The  site  is  elevated,  and  surrounded 
with  timber.  Opposite  is  the  bottom  land  of  the  Little 
Wabash,  about  one  fourth  of  a  mile  wide,  and  in  high 
floods  occasionally  inundated.  Ewington  will  probably 
become  a  pleasant  village,  though  but  little  improve- 
ment is  yet  made. 

Swing's  Fork,  a  branch  of  the  Middle  Fork  of  the 
Big  Muddy  river,  in  Franklin  county. 

Exeter,  a  town  site  and  post  office  on  the  Mauvaise- 
terre,  in  Morgan  county,  fourteen  miles  west  of  Jack- 
sonville. It  has  a  large  flouring  mill,  two  or  three 
stores,  and  about  fifteen  families,  and  is  surrounded 
with  a  large  settlement. 

Eyman's  Settlement,  in  St.  Clair  county,  four  miles 
south  west  of  Belleville, — a  mixture  of  timber  and 
prairie. 

F AIRFIELD,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Wayne  county,  is  on 
the  border  of  Hargrave's  prairie,  on  section  six,  town- 
ship two  south,  range  eight  east.  It  contains  three 
stores,  one  tavern,  a  handsome  brick  court  house,  and 
about  twenty-five  families.  Large  quantities  of  castor 


OF    ILLINOIS.  233 

oil  are  manufactured  at  a  press  located  here,  belonging 
to  Messrs.  Leech  &  Turney. 

Fairfield  is  a  small  but  pleasant  settlement  in  the 
north  western  part  of  Hancock  county,  in  seven  north, 
eight  west. 

Fair  Mount,  a  pleasant  situation  in  the  Macoupen 
prairie,  Greene  county^  sixteen  miles  a  little  west  of 
south  from  Carrollton. 

Fall  Creek  is  a  small  stream  in  Adams  county,  eight 
miles  long,  which  enters  the  Mississippi  a  few  miles  be- 
low Quincy. 

Fancy  Creek,  a  small  branch  of  the  Sangamon  river. 
It  rises  in  the  prairies,  takes  a  westerly  course,  and 
enters  the  river  below  the  junction  of  the  North  and 
South  Forks.  The  country  is  level,  and  the  population 
considerable. 

Fanning^  Creek,  a  small  branch  of  Apple  creek,  eight 
or  ten  miles  long,  in  Morgan  county,  and  has  a  dense 
population  of  about  two  hundred  families. 

Farm  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Tazewell  county,  that 
runs  west  and  enters  the  Illinois  river  opposite  Peoria. 
Its  bottoms  are  rich,  bluffs  broken,  with  white  oak  tim- 
ber, and  occasionally  cedar.  It  is  a  mill  stream. 

Fever  River,  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  rises  near  the 
Platte  Mounds  in  two  branches — the  East  and  West 
forks,  runs  a  south  westerly  course  past  Galena,  and 
enters  the  Mississippi  seven  miles  south  of  that  place. 
It  is  navigable  at  all  times  to  Galena  by  steam  boats  of 
any  size,  and  in  high  water,  two  miles  above.  For  this 
distance  it  is  deep  and  sluggish. 

The  stream  above  Galena  runs  with  a  swift  current 


234  A    GAZETTEER 

over  a  rocky  and  gravelly  bottom,  is  full  of  fine  fish,  and, 
li,ke  all  the  streams  in  this  region,  it  is  fed  with  peren- 
nial springs. 

In  the  East  Fork  settlement  which  is  twelve  miles  east 
from  Galena,  the  timber  is  scarce,  but  there  is  much 
excellent  prairie,  and  the  lead  mines  are  the  best  in  Il- 
linois. Population  of  farmers  and  miners  about  fifty 
families. 

On  the  West  Fork  or  main  creek  is  a  considerable 
settlement,  and  some  good  farms.  The  alluvion  on  the 
stream  is  fine,  and  a  tolerable  supply  of  timber.  This 
settlement  is  eight  miles  in  a  direct  course,  and  twelve 
miles  the  traveled  way,  north  east  from  Galena. 

Fever  river  has  been  incorrectly  called  Bean  river 
(Riviere  au  Feve,  Fr.)  We  have  given  its  proper  name 
from  two  traditionary  accounts. 

The  first  is,  that  in  early  times  the  Indians  were  car- 
ried off  by  a  mortal  sickness,  supposed  to  be  the  small 
pox.  This  circumstance  gave  rise  to  the  name  of  another 
creek  now  called  Small  Pox.  The  other  tradition,  and 
the  correct  one  is,  that  it  derived  its  name  from  a  French 
trader  by  the  name  of  Le  Fevre,  who  settled  near  its 
mouth. 

Finches  Settlement  is  on  a  branch  of  the  South  Fork  of 
Spoon  Fiver,  in  the  south  western  part'of  Knox  county. 

Five  Mile  Grove  is  in  the  south  part  of  Cook  county, 
on  the  road  from  Hickory  creek  to  Kankakee  and  Dan- 
ville. 

Flag  River,  a  branch  of  the  Des  Piaines,  in  Cook 
county.  It  rises  above  the  Du  Page,  runs  an  eastern 
course,  and  enters  the  main  stream  above  the  road  from 
Chicosro  to  Galena. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  235 

Flat  Branch  rises  in  Shelby  county,  runs  northward, 
and  empties  into  the  South  fork  of  Sanganion,  in  the 
north  west  corner  of  the  county.  The  country  prairie 
and  timber,  and  a  settlement  of  seventy  or  eighty  fami- 
lies. The  bed  of  the  stream  is  rocky. 

Flat  Prairie,  a  well  cultivated  prairie  and  large  set- 
tlement in  Randolph  county,  twenty  miles  east  of  Kas- 
kaskia,  settled  chiefly  by  Reformed  Presbyterians,  or 
Covenanters,  who  have  a  resident  minister  and  a  re- 
spectable society. 

Ford's  Ferry)  in  Gallatin  county,  on  the  Ohio,  twenty 
miles  below  Shawneetown,  and  twenty-five  miles  south 
of  Equality.  It  is  on  the  great  road  from  the  southern 
parts  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  to  Illinois  and  Mis- 
souri. 

Forks  of  Sangamon  is  the  name  given  to  the  settle- 
ment near  the  junction,  and  between  the  North  and 
South  forks  of  the  Sangamon  river.  It  is  eight  or  ten 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  The  surface  is  rather  wet, 
level,  considerable  prairie  land,  with  large  bodies  of 
timber  on  both  streams.  Here  is  a  large  settlement, 
and  a  town  has  been  laid  off,  called  Belive. 

Fork  'Prairie ,  in  Bond  county,  between  the  forks  of 
Shoal  creek,  and  from  two  to  eight  miles  north  of 
Greenville.  It  is  gently  undulating,  and  surrounded 
with  settlements. 

Fork  Settlement,  in  Clinton  county,  between  Shoal 
creek  and  the  Kaskaskia  river,  twelve  miles  south  west- 
erly from  Carlyle. 

Forks  of  Spoon  River.  These  are  two  principal 
branches  that  form  the  heads  of  this  stream,  and  which 
for  distinction  I  shall  call  the  East  and  West  forks. 


236  A    GAZETTEER 

The  East  fork  rises  in  fifteen  north,  six  east,  runs 
south,  through  townships  fourteen,  thirteen,  and  twelve, 
of  the  same  range,  where  it  turns  west,  and  meets  the 
West  fork,  receiving  in  its  course  a  number  of  smaller 
streams.  There  is  much  excellent  land  on  this  fork  and 
its  branches;  prairie  predominates,  but  it  is  generally 
dry  and  rich,  with  groves  and  points  of  timber,  and  ma- 
ny fine  springs. 

The  West  fork  rises  in  the  south  east  part  of  Henry 
county,  in  township  fourteen  north,  five  east,  runs  a 
south  easterly  course,  and  unites  with  the  East  fork 
near  the  township  line  between  four  and  five  east.  The 
country  adjoining  is  similar  to  that  on  the  East  fork,  ex- 
cept that  the  surface  is  more  undulating.  The  timber  is 
good,  and  in  considerable  bodies.  Near  the  junction  of 
these  streams  is  much  excellent  timber,  with  a  strip  of 
fertile  prairie  between.  Here  is  a  considerable  settle- 
ment, a  grist  and  saw  mill,  and  a  post  office.  It  is  some- 
times called  Essex's  Settlement. 

Fort  Chartres  was  a  large  stone  fort,  built  by  the 
French,  while  in  possession  of  Illinois.  It  is  situated 
half  a  mile  from  the  ^Mississippi,  and  three  miles  from 
Prairie  du  Rocher,  in  the  north  western  part  of  Ran- 
dolph county. 

It  was  originally  built  by  the  French  in  1720,  to  de- 
fend themselves  against  the  Spaniards,  who  were  then 
taking  possession  of  the  country  on  the  Mississippi.  It 
was  rebuilt  in  1756.  The  circumstances,  character, 
form,  and  history  of  this  fort  are  interesting,  but  I  have 
not  room  in  this  place  to  give  them.  Once  it  was  a  most 
formidable  piece  of  masonry,  the  materials  of  which  were 


OF    ILLINOIS.  237 

brought  three  or  four  miles  from  the  bluffs.  It  was  ori- 
ginally an  irregular  quadrangle,  the  exterior  sides  of 
;vhich  were  490  feet  in  circumference.  Within  the 
trails  were  the  commandant's  and  commissary's  houses, 
i  magazine  for  stores,  barracks,  powder  magazine,  bake 
house,  guard  house,  and  prison. 

This  prodigious  military  work  is  now  a  heap  of  ruins. 
Many  of  the  Hewn  stone  have  been  removed  by  the  peo- 
ple to  Kaskaskia.  A  slough  from  the  Mississippi  ap- 
proached and  undermined  the  wall  on  one  side  in  1772. 
Over  the  whole  fort  is  a  considerable  growth  of  trees, 
and  most  of  its  walls  and  buildings  have  fallen  down  and 
lie  in  one  promiscuous  ruin. 

Fort  Edwards  is  situated  on  the  Mississippi  in  the 
southern  part  of  Hancock  county,  five  miles  below  the 
foot  of  the  Lower  rapids,  and  directly  opposite  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Des  Moines.  This  was  a  military 
post  till  within  a  few  years  past,  situated  on  a  high 
rocky  bluff  of  sand  stone,  which  does  not  show  itself  on 
the  surface. 

The  country  back  is  well  timbered  for  a  short  distance, 
is  of  good  soil  and  is  now  partially  settled.  Native 
alum  is  said  to  be  found  in  considerable  quantities  near 
this  site.  Opposite,  the  water  is  deep,  the  current  gen- 
tle, and  affords  a  good  landing.  When  the  river  is  low 
this  will  be  the  place  to  which  the  produce  of  the  inte- 
rior will  be  brought.  A  town  called  Warsaw  is  laid  off 
near  this  place. 

FortMassar,  formerly  a  military  post,  situated  on  the 
Ohio  river,  on  the  dividing  line  of  Johnson  and  Pope 
counties,  eight  miles  below  Paducah  at  the  month  of 


•>38  A   GAZETTEER 

the  Tennessee.  "A  fort  was  erected  here  by  the  French 
when  in  possession  of  the  western  country.  The  Indi. 
ans,  then  at  war  with  them  laid  a  curious  stratagem  to 
take  it.  A  number  of  them  appeared  in  the  day  time 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  each  of  whom  was  co- 
vered with  a  bear  skin  and  walked  on  all  fours.  Suppo- 
sing them  to  be  bears,  a  party  of  the  French  crossed  the 
river  in  pursuit  of  them.  The  remainder  of  the  troops 
left  their  quarters,  to  see  the  sport. 

"In  the  mean  time  a  large  body  of  warriors,  who  were 
concealed  in  the  woods  near  by,  came  silently  behind 
the  fort,  entered  it  without  oppositon,  and  very  few  of 
the  French  escaped  the  massacre.  They  afterwards 
built  another  fort  on  the  same  ground  and  called  it  Jttas- 
sac,  in  memory  of  this  disasterous  event."  * 

In  1750,  they  abandoned  the  position.  After  the  re- 
volutionary war  the  Americans  repaired  or  rebuilt  it, 
and  kept  a  garrison  here  for  several  years.  The  build- 
ings are  now  destroyed.  According  to  Ellicott,  the  lat- 
itude of  Fort  Massac  is  37  degrees  15  minutes  north. 

Fort  Wdbourn,  on  the  Illinois  river,  at  the  foot  of  the 
rapids,  and  one  mile  below  the  mouth  of  Little  Vermilion' 
la  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832,  it  was  occupied  as  a 
depot  for  military  stores  and  provisions. 

Foster's  Settlement,  in  the  southeast  corner  ofMcDo- 
nough  county,  on  the  head  of  Sugar  creek. 

Foster's  Settlement,  of  sixty  or  seventy  families,  lies  on 
Mounse's  creek,  five  miles  south  of  Decatur. 

*  See  Beck's  Gazetteer,  Art.  Fort  Massac;  and  Stod- 
dard's  Sketches  of  Louisiana. 


»  OF    ILLINOIS. 

Fountain  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Monroe  county.  It 
rises  in  New  Design  settlement,  running  first  north  east, 
then  north  west,  and  finally  bending  round  to  the  south 
west,  it  enters  the  Mississippi  river  in  section  seven, 
three  south,  eleven  west.  It  is  also  called  Eagle,  and 
by  the  early  French  explorers,Z,\/4%-ife  creek. 

Fountain  Bluff,  frequently  called  the  "Big  &2K,"  in 
Jackson  county.  It  is  a  singularly  formed  eminence,  or 
rocky  bluff  on  the  Mississippi,  six  miles  above  the  mouth' 
of  the  Big  Muddy  river.  It  is  of  an  oval  shape,  eight 
miles  in  circumference,  and  with  an  elevation  of  300 
feet.  The  western  side  is  on  the  river,  and  the  top  is 
broken,  full  of  sink  holes,  with  shrubs  and  scattering 
timber.  The  north  side  is  nearly  perpendicular  rock, 
but  the  south  side  is  sloping,  and  ends  in  a  fine  rich 
tract  of  soil  covered  with  farms.  East  is  an  extensive 
and  low  bottom  with  lakes  and  swamps. 

Fine  springs  of  limpid  water  gush  out  from  the  foot  of 
this  bluff  on  all  sides. 

North,  and  along  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi  is  dry 
and  rich  alluvion  with  a  line  of  farms,  known  by  the 
name  of  the  "Settlement  under  the  Bluff/' 

Fountaindale,  a  flourishing  settlement,  in  the  forks  of 
the  Du  Page,  Cook  county,  thirty  miles  west  of  Chicago. 
Here  are  perennial  springs,  beautiful  timber,  rich  soil, 
extensive  prairies,  and  good  society  of  industrious  and 
enterprising  farmers.  The  Methodist  and  Presbyteri- 
ans have  congregations  and  constant  preaching. 

Four  Mile  Prairie,  in  Perry  county,  adjoining  Pinck- 
neyville,  is  seven  miles  long,  and  four  miles  wide.  It  is 
an  elevated,  dry,  undulating,  and  fertile  tract,  with  a 


240  A  GAZETTEER 

dense  settlement,  and  lies  between  the  Big  Beaucoup 
and  Little  Elm  creeks. 

Fourteen  Mile  Prairie,  in  Effingham  county,  receives  its 
name  from  its  distance  along  the  national  road.  It  lies 
east  of  Ewington,  is  generally  level,  but  has  some  dry 
land  and  good  points  of  timber. 

Fox  River,  one  of  the  principal  branches  of  the  Illinois. 
It  rises  in  the  Winsconsin  territory,  passes  through  a 
series  of  small  lakes  about  the  boundary  line,  and  enters 
the  Illinois  river  at  Ottawa. 

Its  general  course  is  south.  At  the  boundary  line  its 
width  is  forty-five  yards. 

Several  fine  bodies  of  timber  line  its  banks,  especially 
about  the  mouth  of  Indian  creek,  and  the  Big-  Woods.  At 
the  rapids  five  miles, above  its  mouth,  are  most  extensive 
water  privileges. 

Here  the  river  is  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  yards 
wide,  with  the  bed  and  banks  of  coarse  grained  sand 
stone.  The  rapids  are  sixteen  feet  descent,  and  both 
sides  of  the  river  will  admit  of  mills  and  machinery  for 
three  fourths  of  a  mile,  with  inexhaustible  supplies  of 
water. 

The  deficiency  of  timber  near  this  spot  is  the' only 
drawback  upon  it;  but  inexhaustible  bodies  of  coal  are  to 
be  found  but  a  few  miles  distant. 

Fox  River,  a  tributary  of  the  Little  Wabash,  dividing 

,the  counties  of  Clay  and  Lawrence.     It  rises  in  Jasper 

county,  runs  south,  and  enters  the  Little  Wabash  near 

the  line  of  Edwards  county.     The  land  along  its  course 

is  about  second  quality  for  this  portion  of  the  state. 

Fox  River,  in  the  north  eastern  part  of  White  county. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  241 

It  is  a  bayou  that  puts  out  from  the  big  Wabash,  runs  a 
few  miles,  and  again  enters  that  river.  The  late  Mor- 
ris Birbeck,  esq.,  known  as  one  of  the  English  emi- 
grants to  Edwards  county,  and  author  of  "Letters  from 
Illinois ,"  was  unfortunately  drowned  in  attempting  to 
swim  this  stream  on  horse  back. 

Fraker's,  a  small  settlement  between  the  forks  of 
Spoon  river,  and  the  borders  of  Henry  county,  thirteen 
north,  four  east. 

FRANKFORT  is  the  seat  of  justice  for  Franklin  county, 
on  section  twenty,  seven  south,  three  east  of  the  third 
principal  meridian. 

It  is  situated  on  elevated  ground,  and  has  two  stores, 
two  groceries,  two  taverns,  with  a  blacksmith,  wagon 
maker,  saddler, and  tanyard,  together  with  ahorse  mill, 
a  distillery,  and  fifteen  families. 

Frasier's  Creek  rises  near  the  base  line,  in  Adams 
county,  runs  west,  and  falls  into  the  south  prong  of  Bear 
creek.  Along  it  are  fine  farms  and  a  beautiful  country. 

Free's  Settlement  is  on  the  borders  of  a  handsome  prai- 
rie, in  the  south  eastern  part  of  St.  Clair  county,  be- 
tween the  two  Mud  creeks,  eighteen  miles  from  Belle- 
ville. 

French  Grove,  a  small  settlement  in  the  north  west- 
ern part  of  Peoria  county,  on  the  branches  of  Spoon 
river.     It  contains  three  or  four  sections  of  excellent 
timber  in  groves,  with  abundance  of  rich,  dry,  rollin 
prairie  around  it. 

French  Settlement,  in  the  south  eastern  part  of  Law- 
rence county,  ten  miles  from  Lawrenceville,  is  a  tim- 
bered tract,  and   rather  broken.     Of  the  population, 
16 


A    GAZETTEER 

which  consists   of  sixty  families,   about   one  half   ar/? 
French. 

French  Village,  in  St.  Glair  county,  called  formerly 
Little  French  Village,  was  formed  by  settlers  from  Ca- 
hokia  about  forty  years  since.  It  lies  on  the  bovtorn. 
near  the  bluffs,  on  the  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
and  contains  fifteen  or  twenty  families. 

Friend's  Creek,  a  branch  of  the  North  fork  of  San- 
gamon,  in  Macon  county,  sixteen  miles  north  east  from 
Decatur.  The  land  is  good,  and  the  settlement  large. 
Funk's  Grove,  a  settlement  in  McLean  county,  twelve 
miles  south  west  from  Bloomington.  The  grove  is  round- 
ish in  form,  contains  about  eight  square  miles,  and  lies 
on  the  main  brancli  of  Sugar  creek.  It  has  an  excel- 
lent soil,  fine  water,  and  is  monopolized  by  a  family  con- 
nection of  the  name  of  Funk,  from  Ohio,  uho  raise  large 
numbers  of  cattle. 

Fulfee's  Creek,  near  the  south  border  of  Effingham 
county,  enters  the  Little  Wabash  below  Brc-ckett's  set- 
tlement. There  is  a  considerable  quantity  of  good 
land  on  its  banks,  and  a  settlement  of  twelve  or  fifteen 
families. 

Gagnie,  a  sluggish  stream  that  runs  south  west  into 
the  Mississippi,  and  forms  the  boundary  line  between 
Randolph  and  Jackson  counties. 

GALENA  is  the  seat  of  justice  for  Jo  Daviess  county, 
and  the  principal  town  in  the  lead  mine  country.  It  is 
pleasantly  situated  on  Fever  river,  and  on  the  fourth 
principal  meridian.  It  has  eighteen  or  twenty  stores, 
a  dozen  groceries,  four  taverns  and  hotels,  a  printing 
office  that  publishes  the  "  Galenian,"  a  weekly  paper. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  243 

four  lawyers,  three  physicians,  two  schools,  two  preach- 
ers, a  pipe  and  sheet  lead  manufactory,  a  flour  and  saw 
mill,  a  gunsmith,  silversmith,  saddler,  tailor,  several 
carpenters,  blacksmiths,  brick  and  stone  masons,  etc. 
There  are  about  three  hundred  families  and  ten  or 
twelve  hundred'inhabitants.  Fever  river  is  navigable 
for  steam  boats  to  the  town. 

Garden  Prairie,  between  Richland  and  Rock  creeks, 
in  Sangamon  county,  is  a  level,  rich,  beautiful  prairie, 
two  miles  wide,  and  six  or  eight  miles  long,  fourteen 
miles  north  westerly  from  Springfield,  and  contains  a 
population  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  families. 

Germany,  a  settlement  of  Pennsylvania  Germans,  in 
Sangamon  county,  four  miles  north  east  from  Spring- 
field, and  near  the  mouth  of  Sugar  creek. 

Geneva  is  a  post  office  and  town  site  in  Morgan  coun- 
ty, about  ten  miles  south  west  from  Jacksonville. 

George's  Creek  heads  in  the  interior  of  Johnson  coun- 
ty, runs  south,  and  enters  the  ponds  between  the  Big 
Bay  creek  and  Cash  river.  The  land  is  tolerably  rich, 
and  the  settlement  contains  twenty-five  or  thirty  fami- 
lies. 

Georgetown,,  a  post  town  and  village,  containing  about 
twenty  families  and  three  stores,  situated  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Little  Vermilion,  in  eighteen  north,  eleven 
west,  in  Vermilion  county,  ten  miles  south  of  Danville. 
A  fine  country,  and  flourishing  settlements  surround  it. 
Georgetown,  a  town  site  in  Sangamon  county,  twenty 
miles  north  east  from  Springfield,  between  Lake  fork 
and  Salt  creek,  in  section  nineteen,  eighteen  north 
two  west. 


244  A    GAZETTEER 

GILEA.D,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Calhoun  county,  is  si- 
tuated at  the  foot  of  the  bluffs,  three  fourths  of  a  mile 
from  the  mouth  of  Salt  Prairie  slough,  on  section  eight, 
eleven  south,  two  west. 

It  has  two  stores,  and  a  dozen  families.  The  court 
house  is  of  brick,  two  stories,  thirty  feet  square,  and 
finished  outside. 

Gilham's  Settlement  is  in  Bond  county,  nine  miles  east 
of  north  from  Greenville. 

The  land  is  of  inferior  quality,  consisting  of  both  tim- 
ber and  prairie. 

Gilmore^s  Settlement  is  on  Crooked  creek,  in  Clinton 
county,  on  the  road  to  Shawneetown,  twelve  miles  south- 
east of  Carlyle. 

GOLCONDA  is  situated  on  the  south  side  of  Lusk's  creek 
and  north  bank  of  the  Ohio.  It  is  the  county  seat  of 
Pope,  and  has  three  stores,  one  grocery,  two  taverns, 
and  about  twenty  dwelling  houses,  chiefly  framed  and 
brick.  The  court  house  is  of  brick,  thirty-six  feet 
square,  two  stories,  with  a  neat  cupola.  It  is  situated 
on  the  fractional  township  thirteen  south,  in  range 'se- 
ven east  of  the  third  principal  meridian. 

Goose  Creek  enters  the  North  fork  of  Sangamon,  in 
Macon  county,  twenty-five  miles  north  east  from  Deca- 
tur. 

Goshen  is  the  oldest  settlement  in  Madison  county, 
along  the  bluffs,  west  and  south  west  of  Edwards ville. 

Grable^s  Settlement,  in  Gallatin  county,  is  sixteen 
miles  west  from  Equality,  on  the  road  to  Frankfort. 

It  is  a  large  settlement,  with  considerable  tracts  of 
good  farming  land. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  245 

Graham's  Settlement,  in  Alexander  county,  on  the 
north  side,  twenty-five  miles  north  west  from  America. 
The  upland  is  thin  soil,  but  there  is  a  rich  bottom  on  a 
branch  of  Cash  river,  which  runs  through  this  settle- 
ment. 

Grafton  is  a  town  recently  laid  off,  two  miles  below 
the  mouth  of  the  Illinois,  in  Greene  county.  It  is  si- 
tuated on  a  strip  of  elevated  land,  under  the  bluffs,  and 
on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  and  has  a  good  landing. 
It  is  on  fractional  section  fifteen,  township  eight  north, 
in  range  twelve  west  from  the  third  principal  meri- 
dian. 

Several  islands  in  the  Mississippi  make  this  point  the 
real  junction  of  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers,  as  to 
navigation. 

The  country  a  few  miles  back  is  rich,  and  becoming 
densely  populated. 

Grafton  is  twenty-four  miles  from  Carrollton,  and  ten 
miles  from  (St.  Charles,  in  Missouri,  and  must  soon  be- 
come a  thoroughfare  for  traveling  from  the  Sangamon 
country  across  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Charles,  and  the 
regions  along  the  Missouri  river.  It  has  a  post  office, 
one  store,  one  tavern,  and  a  number  of  families. 

Grand  Cote,  an  eminence  in  a  large  prairie,  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Randolph  county. 

Grand  Marais,  called  also  Clear  Lake,  in  St.  Clair 
county,  in  the  bottom,  between  the  French  Village  and 
Cahokia. 

Grand  Passe,  two  lakes  in  the  Illinois  bottom,  at  the 
south  west  corner  of  Greene  county,  so  called  by  the 
French  explorers  of  lllnois,  from  the  successive  flocks 


246  A  GAZETTEER 

of  geese  seen  flying  frosi  tie  cue  to  the  other.  They 
ure  connected  with  Apple  cretk  by  a  stream  called 
Fishing  creek. 

Grand  Point,  asm;ill  stream  and  settlement  in  Wash- 
ington county,  six  miles  norlh  east  from  New  Nashville, 
and  contains  about  twenty  families.  The  creek  runs 
north  and  enters  Crooked  creek. 

Grand  Prairie.  Under  this  general  name  is  embraced 
the  prairie  country  lying  between  the  waters  which  fall 
into  the  Mississippi,  and  those  which  enter  the  Wabash 
rivers.  It  does  not  consist  of  one  vast  tract,  lioundless 
to  the  vision,  and  uninhabitable  for  want  of  timber:  but 
is  made  up  of  continuous  tracts,  with  points  of  timber 
projecting  inward,  and  long  arms  of  prairie  extending 
between  the  creeks  and  smaller  streams.  The  southern 
points  of  the  Grand  prairie  are  formed  in  the  north  east- 
ern parts  of  Jackson  county,  and  extend  in  a  north 
eastern  course  between  the  streams  of  various  widths. 
from  one  to  ten  or  twelve  miles,  through  Perry  1  Wash- 
ington, Jefferson,  Marion,  the  eastern  part  of  Fayette, 
Effingham,  through  the  western  portion  of  Coles,  into 
Champaign  and  Iroquois  counties,  where  it  becomes  con- 
nected with  the  prairies  that  project  eastward  from  the 
Illinois  river  and  its  tributaries.  A  large  arm  lies  in 
Marion  county,  between  the  waters  of  Crocked  creek 
and  the  East  fork  of  the  Kaskuskia  river,  where  the 
Vincennes  road  passes  through  in  its  longest  direction. 
This  is  frequently  called  the  Grand  prairie. 

Much  the  largest  part  of  the  Grand  prairie  is  gently 
undulating;  but  of  the  southern  portion  considerable 
tracts  are  flat,  and  cf  rather  inferior  soil.  No  insur- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  247 

mountablc  obstacle  exits  to  its  future  population.  No 
portion  of  it  is  more  than  six  or  eight  miles  distant  from 
timber,  arid  coal  in  abundance  is  found  in  various  parts. 
Those  who  have  witnessed  the  changes  produced  upon  a 
prairie  surface  within  twenty  or  thirty  years,  consider 
these  extensive  prairies  as  offering  no  serious  impedi- 
ment to  the  future  growth  of  the  state. 

Grand  Prairie,  in  Crawford  county.  The  tract  of 
prairie  between  the  Embarras  and  Wabash  rivers,  com- 
mencing in  Crawford  county,  and  running  northward 
through  Clark  and  Edgar  into  Vermilion  counties,  is 
called  Grand  prairie,  by  the  citizens  of  those  counties. 
It  is  cot  of  great  width,  interspersed  with  long  points  of 
timber  on  the  streams,  and  frequently  throwing  out  arms 
of  prairie  land  between  those  streams. 

The  prairie  soil  in  this  region  is  not  equal  in  quality 
to  that  further  north  and  west.  With  the  exception  of 
the  sand  prairies  along  the  Wabash,  the  soil  is  thinner, 
less  undulating,  and  more  inclined  to  be  wet. 

Grand  Tower,  a  perpendicular  sand  rock,  rising  from 
the  bed  of  the  Mississippi,  near  the  Missouri  side,  and  a 
short  distance  above  the  mouth  of  Big  Muddy  river. 
The  top  is  level,  seventy  or  eighty  feet  high,  and  sup- 
ports a  stratum  of  soil  on  which  are  found  a  few  stunted 
cedars  and  shrubs.  Here  are  indications  that  a  barrier 
of  rock  once  extended  across  the  Mississippi,  and  form- 
ed a  grand  cataract.  The  bed  of  the  river,  at  a-low  stage 
of  water  still  exhibits  a  chain  of  sunken  rocks.  The 
"DeviVs  Tea  Table,"  "Back  Bone"  etc.  are  names  given 
by  the  boatmen  of  the  Mississippi  to  the  singularly 


248  A    GAZETTEER 

formed,  abrupt,  and  romantic  precipices  that  line  the 
banks  of  that  river  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Grand  Tower. 

Grand  J^iew,  a  small  village  in  the  south  western  part 
of  Edgar  county,  ten  miles  from  Paris,  and  on  the  state 
road  to  Vandalia.  It  is  on,  and  surrounded  by  a  beauti- 
ful, rolling,  rich,  prairie,  near  the  head  waters  of  Big 
creek.  A  post  office  is  here  called  Sutherland. 

Graysville,a.  town  of  fifteen  or'twenty  families,  and  a 
convenient  landing  on  the  big  Wabash,  in  the  north  east 
corner  of  White  county,  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Bon 
Pas  creek. 

This  is  a  convenient  place  of  deposite  for  Edwards 
county. 

Gregory^s  Settlement,  in  Clinton  county,  fifteen  miles 
north  west  of  Carlyle. 

Greenfield,  a.  town  site  near  Lick  creek,  in  Sangamon 
county,  fifteen  miles  south  westerly  from  Springfield, 
on  sections  three  and  ten,  fourteen  north,  seven  west. 
Hereditlrs  mills  are  in  the  vicinity. 

GREENVILLE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Bond  county,  is  a 
pleasant  village  on  the  East  fork  of  Shoal  creek,  on  sec- 
tion ten,  township  five  north,  in  range  three  west  of  the 
third  principal  meridian. 

It  has  three  taverns,  three  stores,  a  cotton  factory, 
various  mechanics,  and  about  thirty  families.  The  court 
house  is  a  two  story  framed  building,  unfinished. 

Green's  Settlement,  in  Bond  county,  seven  miles  south 
west  from  Greenville.  The  country  around  is  propor- 
tioned into  timber  and  prairie. 

Griggsvillc,  a  town  site  and  post  office  in  Pike  coun- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  -249 

ty,  eight  miles  north  east  from  Pittsfield,  on  sections  fif- 
teen and  twenty-two,  four  south,  three  west.  It  is  four 
miles  west  of  Phillip's  ferry,  on  the  Illinois  river,  on 
high  ground,  and  on  the  border  of  a  large,  undulating 
prairie,  and  surrounded  with  good  settlements. 

Grindstone  Fork,  a  branch  of  Crooked  creek,  in  the 
south  part  of  McDonough  county. 

Griswold's  Post  Office  is  in  Lockwood's  settlement, 
Hamilton  county. 

Gros  Point  is  a  promontory  that  puts  into  lake  Mi- 
chigan, twelve  miles  above  Chicago.  It  is  twenty  feet 
high,  projects  two  hundred  yards  into  the  lake,  rich, 
timbered  land,  and  settled  around. 

Guilford,  a  settlement  on  Bear  creek,  Adams  county. 
Many  of  the  inhabitants  are  from  Connecticut. 

Gum's  Fort.  See  Henderson's  Settlement,  Knox  county. 

Gun  Prairie,  in  Jefferson  county,  six  miles  south  of 
Mount  Vernon,  two  miles  long,  and  one  mile  wide.  The 
land,  is  good,  and  the  settlement  contains  twenty  fami- 
lies. 

Hadleifs  Creek  rises  in  the  north  part  of  Pike  county, 
in  four  south,  three  west,  and  enters  the  Snicartee 
slough.  The  land  is  undulating  but  good. 

Hamburg,  a  landing  on  the  Mississippi,  in  Calhoun 
Bounty,  and  the  residence  of  John  Shaw,  esq.  ten  miles 
north  west  of  Gilead.  The  landing  is  said  to  be  good, 
and  the  bank  high.  Here  is  a  post  office  of  the  same 
name. 

Hammcfs  Settlement,  in  Coles  county,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Embarras,  twenty  two  miles  north  of  Charleston. 


250  A    GAZETTEER' 

The  land  is  good,  generally  rolling,  and  the  settlement 
has  twelve  or  fifteen  families. 

Hancock  Prairie  commences  above  Bear  creek  in  Ad- 
ams county.  This  is  an  extensive  tract  of  rich  prairie, 
tolerably  level,  which  runs  through  Hancock  county, 
enters  Warren,  and  stretches  between  Henderson  and 
Spoon  rivers  indefinitely  north.  Its  width  is  various, 
being  from  ten  to  twenty  miles. 

A  principal  road  to  Rock  river  and  northward  passes 
through  this  prairie. 

Hardens  Settlement^  in  the  south  east  part  of  Hancock 
county,  on  the  head  and  along  the  North  fork  of  Bear 
creek.  The  land  is  excellent  and  well  watered,  with  a 
tolerable  supply  of  good  timber. 

Hargrave's  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  adjoining  Fair- 
field.  It  is  about  seven  miles  long  and  two  wide;  rolling, 
and  thin  soil.  Population  about  one  hundred  families. 

Harkness'  Settlement  is  on  the  west  side  of  Peoria  coun- 
ty, adjoining  Fulton,  twelve  miles  west  from  Peoria. 

Harris's  Creek  rises  in  the  bluffs  of  the  Ohio  river,  in 
Gallatin  county,  runs  a  north  course,  and  enters  Salii-e 
creek  fifteen  miles  below  Equality.  Much  of  the  laud 
on  its  borders  is  rough  and  broken,  interspersed  with 
tracts  of  good  soil. 

Harrisonville,  the  former  seat  of  justice  of  Monroe 
(.Tinnty,  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  nearly  opposite  Herculatieurn.  It  is  a  place  of  very 
little  account,  having  not  more  than  half  a  dozen  fa- 
milies. 

Havanna,  a  town  site  and  landing  on  the  Illinois  river, 
directly  opposite  the  mouth  oi  Spoon  river. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  251 

It  has  an  eligible  situation  on  a  high  sand  ridgCj  fifty 
feet  above  the  highest  floods  of  the  river.  It  is  on  sec- 
tion one,  township  twenty-one  north,  in  range  nine 
west  of  the  third  principal  meridian. 

Havanua  is  well  situated  to  receive  the  produce,  and 
direct  the  trade  of  a  pretty  extensive  country  on  both 
sides  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  is  on  the  great  thorough- 
fare from  Indiana,  by  Danville  and  Bloomington  to  the 
counties  that  lie  to  the  west  and  north.  Ossian  M.  Ross 
is  the  proprietor,  who  has  an  extensive  ware  house, 
store,  tavern,  and  ferry. 

Haw  Creek  is  a  branch  of  Spoon  river,  twenty  miles 
long,  that  rises  in  the  middle  part  of  Knox  county,  runs 
east,  and  enters  Spoon  river. 

The  country  on  its  borders  is  first  rate  for  settle- 
ments, which  are  forming  fast. 

It  has  some  good  mill  seats. 

Hawk-ill's  Prairie,  in  Greene  county,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Macoupen,  and  nine  miles  east  of  south  from  Car- 
rollton. 

Hazel's  Settlement  is  in  Pope  county,' on  the  road  to  Vi- 
enna. 

Head  of  Apple  Cre.'?.V,  is  an  extensive  settlement  in  the 
south  eastern  part  of  Morgan  county,  eighteen  miles  from 
Jacksonville. 

It  is  a  fertile  tract,  tolerably  level,  and  has  about  three 
hundred  families. 

Head  of  Apple  River,  is  a  settlement  in  Jo  Daviess 
county,  south  east  of  Galena. 

Head  of  Richland ,  is  a  fine  settlement  of  fifty  or  sixty 
families  in  Sangamon  county,  seventeen  north,  seven 


:J52  A    GAZETTEER 

west,  on  Richland  creek,  fourteen  miles  northwest  from 
Springfield. 

The  land  is  highj  dry,  undulating  and  rich. 

Here  is  an  excellent  flouring  mill  by  ox  power,  an  oil 
mill  for  making  linseed  oil,  the  only  one  in  the  state, 
and  a  carding  machine  and  clothier's  works,  for  dress- 
ing cloth. 

Head  of  Silver  Creek,  a  settlement  in  the  north  eastern 
part  of  Madison  county,  surrounded  with  large  prairies. 

Head  of  Wood  River,  a  settlement  in  the  south  part  of 
Macoupen  county.  It  is  a  good  tract  of  land,  and  the 
settlement  is  considerable. 

Henderson  River  rises  in  Knox  county,  takes  a  south 
western  course  through  Warren,  and  after  receiving  se- 
veral branches,  enters  the  Mississippi  in  ten  north,  five 
west,  through  a  low  and  inundated  bottom. 

It  is  a  beautiful  stream,  furnishes  somegood  miil  seats, 
and  has  a  fine  body  of  timber  on  its  banks.  The  country 
on  Henderson  is  considered  one  of  the  finest  bodies  of 
land  in  Illinois. 

Its  principal  branches  arc  South  fork,  and  Cedar  fork. 
The  timber  is  oaks  of  various  species,  hickory,  walnut, 
ash,  elm,  sugar  maple,  linden,  etc. 

South  fork  of  Henderson  river  rises  in  ten  north,  five 
west,  runs  through  an  excellent  body  of  land  and  fine 
settlements  in  Warren  county.  The  heads  of  all  the 
streams  in  this  part  of  the  state  are  in  dry  and  rich  land. 

Henderson  Settlement  lies  in  Knox  county,  on  Hender- 
son river,  ten  miles  north  of  west  from  Knoxville.  Here 
is  a  large  body  of  rich  timbered  land,  surrounded  with 
dry,  fertile,  first  rate  prairies.  The  settlement  is  some- 
times called  Gum's  fort. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  253 

Henderson's  Creek,  in  Greene  county,  a  small  stream 
that  rises  near  the  line  of  Morgan  county,  runs  a  south 
course,  and  empties  into  Apple  creek. 
Henderson's  Stand,  [see  Macoiipen  Point.] 

HENNEPIN,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Putnam  county,  is 
situated  in  the  great  bend,  and  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Illinois  river,  and  the  border  of  De  Prue  prairie,  on  sec- 
tion nine,  township  thirty-two  north,  in  range  two  west 
of  the  third  principal  meridian.  Its  situation  is  eleva- 
ted, the  surface  gently  ascending  from  the  river,  with  an 
extensive  body  of  rich  land  adjacent. 

The  bottom  opposite  is  about  one  mile  and  a  half  wide, 
and  overflowed  in  high  water. 

This  town  was  laid  off  in  1831,  and  contains  six  stores, 
one  tavern,  about  fifty  families,  and  is  improving.  Steam 
boats  ascend  to  this  place  at  a  moderate  stage  of  water 

Herren's  Prairie  is  in  the  south  western  part  of  Frank- 
lin county. 

Herringtori* s  Prairie,  eleven  miles  north  west  from 
Fairfield,  in  Wayne  county,  is  eight  miles  long,  from  two 
to  four  miles  wide,  surface  rolling,  soil  second  rate,  and 
has  a  settlement  of  fifty  families. 

SKggins's  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Fayette  county, 
that  enters  the  Kaskaskia  from  the  west,  three  miles 
above  Yandalia. 

Higgins's  Settlement ,  in  Crawford  county,  is  five  miles 
south  of  Palestine. 

High  Prairie,  a  beautiful  prairie  and  fine  settlement  in 
St  Clair  county,  eight  miles  south  of  Belleviille. 

Highsmith's  Settlement,  in  Crawford  county,  ten  miles 
south  of  Palestine.  Here  are  considerable  barrens,  the 


rj54  A   GAZETTEER 

timber  is  oak,  hickory,  etc.,  the  soil  a  medium  quality, 
the  population  twenty  or  twenty-five  families. 

HiLLSBORo',the  seat  of  justice  for  Montgomery  county, 
is  situated  twenty-eight  miles  north  west  from  Vandalia. 
It  has  six  stores,  four  taverns,  three  blacksmiths,  three 
carpenters,  one  cabinet  maker,  two  physicians,  two  tan- 
neries, one  shoemaker,  two  tailors,  one  tinner,  a  post  of- 
fice, land  agency  office  by  John  Tillson,  jun.  esq.,  fifty 
families,  and  about  250  inhabitants. 

It  is  situated  in  an  elevated  region,  near  middle  fork 
of  Shoal  creek. 

The  Presbyterian  society  in  this  place  has  built  a  neat 
brick  edifice,  in  the  modern  style,  for  a  house  of  worship. 
Hillsboro'  is  a  hdalthy  and  flourishing  town.  The  prin- 
cipal road  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield,  and  another 
from  Shelbyville  to  Alton,  pass  through  this  place. 

Hickory  Creek,  in  Coles  county,  rises  in  the  Grand 
prairie,  runs  south  east,  and  enters  the  Embarras  five 
miles  below  Charleston.  It  is  a  good  mill  stream,  and 
the  land  through  which  it  passes  is  undulating  and  rich; 
the  settlements  contain  120  families. 

Hickory  Creek  rises  in  Cook  county,  runs  a  westerly 
course, and  enters  the  Des  Plaines  nearly  opposite  Mount 
Joliet.  On  its  banks  are  large  bodies  of  excellent  tim- 
ber, intermixed  with  good  prairie  land.  The  settlements 
are  extensive- 

Hickory  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Fayctte  county.  It 
xises  about  nine  miles  east  of  Vandalia  in  the  prairies, 
runs  south  west,  and  enters  the  Kaskaskia  five  miles 
below  Vandalia.  The  soil  is  thin,  timber  post  and  other 
species  of  oak. 


OF    ILLINOIS,  255 

Hickory  Hill  Settlement,  in  Wayne  county,  eighteen 
miles  west  of  Fair  field,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  Skil- 
let fork.  It  is  a  mixture  of  timber  and  prairie,  soil  se- 
cond quality,  and  population  about  fifty  families. 

Hickory  Grove,  a  post  office,  and  large  settlement,  on 
the  borders  of  Shoal  creek  prairie,  in  Bond  county,  nine 
miles  south  of  west  from  Greenville.  The  prairie  is  large 
undulating,  and  rich.  The  timber  adjoining  is  excellent 
and  abundant.  The  settlement  contains  seventy  or 
eighty  families  and  a  store.  Many  European  Germans 
are  settling  in  the  prairie. 

Hickory  Grove,  a  settlement  near  a  point  of  timber  in 
the  Macoupen  prairie,  Greene  county,  twelve  miles  south 
of  Carrollton,  and  on  the  road  to  Alton.  The  settlement 
is  spreading  over  a  fine,  rich,  prairie,  moderately  undu- 
lating. 

Hickory  Grove,  in  McDonongh  county,  in  seven  north, 
two  west,  is  a  small  and  beautiful  tract  of  timber,  on  the 
head  of  Camp  fork.  This  is  sometimes  called  Walnut 
grove.  The  prairie  around  it  is  undulating  and  rich- 

Hodge^s  Creek,  in  Greene  county,  rises  in  Pratts's  prai- 
rie, runs  south  westerly,  and  enters  Grand  Passe.  It  is 
also  called  Hurricane » 

Hodge's  Fork,  a  branch  of  the  Macoupen  from  the  n,orth 
side,  which  unites  with  the  main  stream  twelve  miles 
east  from  Carrollton,  and  naar  the  line  of  Greene  county. 
Towards  its  head  it  is  called  Otter  creek.  See  North 
fork  of  the  Macoupen. 

Hog  Prairie  is  in  Hamilton  county,  a  few  miles  west 
of  McLeansboro'.  It  is  about  two  miles  in  diameter, 
level,  and  rather  wet. 


256  A    GAZETTEER 

Holderman's  Grove,  in  La  Salle  county,  is  sixteen  miles 
north  east  from  Ottawa,  containing  about  500  acres  of 
timber,  and  a  settlement  of  several  families. 

Holland's  Grove,  a  settlement  on  Farm  creek,  in  Taze- 
weil  county.  The  timber  and  prairie  are  first  rate.  It 
adjoins  Peoria  lake. 

Honey  Creek  is  a  stream  that  rises  in  the  prairies  of 
Warren  county,  runs  west  twenty  miles,  giving  name 
to  alow  bottom,  and  enters  the  Mississippi, below  Ellison. 

Horse  Creek  rises  near  the  centre  of  Monroe  county, 
runs  a  south  easterly  course  into  Randolph  county,  and 
enters  the  Kaskaskia  river,  in  five  south,  eight  west; 
several  settlements  lie  along  this  creek  where  there  is 
good  timber  and  prairie  land. 

Horse  Creek,  in  Sangamon  county,  rises  in  the  prairies 
torwards  the  head  of  Macoupen,  and  enters  the  South 
fork  of  Sangamon  about  section  twenty,  fifteen  north, 
four  west. 

Horse  Prairie,  in  Randolph  county,  on  Horse  creek, 
a  rich,  undulating  tract,^and  contains  forty  or  fifty  fam- 
ilies. 

Horse  Shoe  Lake,  in  Alexander  county,  eight  or  ten 
miles  long,  and  from  half  a  mile  to  one  mile  wide.  Its 
name  indicates  its  form,  and  its  outlet  is  into  Cash  river. 

Howard's  Settlement,  in  Pope  county,  on  Big  creek, 
fifteen  miles  northeast  from  Golconda,  comprises  excel- 
lent land,  and  about  seventy  or  eighty  families. 

Howard's  Settlement,  in  Madison  county,  on  the  borders 
of  the  Looking  Glass  prairie,  thirteen  miles  south  easf 
erly  from  Edwardsville. 

Howard's  Settlement,  near  Potatoe  creek,  in    Fulton 


OF    ILLINOIS,  257 

county,  twelve  miles  south  of  west  from  Levvistovvn.  The 
soil  is  good,  of  the  description  called  barrens. 

Iloxey's  Settlement,  in  Madison  county,  on  the  West  fork 
of  Silver  creek,  nine  miles  north  east  from  Edwards- 
ville.  The  prairie  is  undulating  and  rich. 

Hudson's  Creek  is  a  small  stream  in  Crawford  county, 
that  empties  itself  into  the  Wabash. 

Huey's  Settlement,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Grand  prai- 
rie, in  Clinton  county,  three  miles  east  of  Carlyle.  A 
rich  tract  of  prairie,  bordered  with  heavy  timber. 

Hugh's  Settlement,  in  Alexander  county,  on  the  west 
side  of  Cash  river,  seventeen  miles  north  from  America. 
Mill  creek,  a  branch  of  Cash  river,  runs  through  it. 

The  bottom  and  the  upland  are  both  good,  and  the  set- 
tlement has  forty  or  fifty  families. 

Hurricane  Settlement,  in  the  eastern  part  of  Montgome- 
ry, and  western  part  of  Fayette  counties.  It  extends 
along  the  timber  of  Hurricane  fork,  has  a  rolling  sur- 
face, which  is  broken  near  the  creek;  the  timber  is  post 
oak,  and  the  soil  rather  thin. 

Hurricane,  an  extensive  settlement  along  the  creek 
of  that  namo  and  on  the  eastern  side  of  Bond  county 
The  prairie  is  rather  wet,'the  timber  excellent,   and  in 
large  bodies. 

Hurricane  Post  Office  is  in  Hurricane  settlement, 
Montgomery  county,  on  the  road  from  Vandalia  to  Hills  - 
boro',  and  equi  distant  from  these  places. 

Hurricane  Fork,    a  branch  of  the  Kaskaskia  river, 

rises  near  the  line  of  Montgomery  and  Shelby  counties, 

"runs  south  near  the  western  line  of  Fayette  county, 

and  enters   the  Kaskaskia  on  the  right   side,   twelve? 

17 


258  A    GAZETTEER 

miles  below  Vandalia.  The  banks  of  this  stream  are- 
well  timbered,  and  the  low  bottoms  occasionally  inun- 
dated. 

Hutchetis^s  Creek,  a  branch  of  Clear  creek,  in  Union 
county,  ten  miles  from  Jonesboro'. 

Hutchens's  Settlement,  in  Perry  county,  five  miles  north 
of  Pinckneyville.  The  surface  is  undulating,  the  soil 
of  a  middling  quality,  and  the  settlement  small. 
,  Illinois  Prairie,  formerly  called  Wolf  prairie,  com- 
mences near  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river,  in  Calhoun 
county,  and  extends  twenty  miles  along  the  foot  of  the 
bluffs,  adjoining  the  alluvion  of  the  Illinois.  Its  ave- 
rage width  is  one  mile  and  a  half,  the  soil  is  good,  and 
thirty  families  are  settled  here. 

Illinois  River,  a  beautiful  stream  of  water  that  passes 
diagonally  through  the  state,  and  enters  the  Mississip- 
pi twenty  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri. 

It  commences  under  its  proper  name  at  the  junction 
of  the  Kankakee  and  Des  Plaines.  From  thence  it 
runs  nearly  a  west  course,  (receiving  Fox  river  at  Ot- 
tawa, and  Vermilion  near  the  foot  of  the  rapids,)  to 
Hennepin,  in  township  thirty-three  north,  and  in  range 
two  west  of  the  third  principal  meridian.  Here  it 
curves  to  the  south,  and  then  to  the  south  west,  receiv- 
ing a  number  of  tributaries,  the  largest  of  which  are 
Spoon  and  Sangamon  rivers,  till  it  reaches  Naples. 
Here  it  bends  gradually  to  the  south,  and  continues 
that  course  till  within  six  miles  of  the  Mississippi,  when 
it  curves  to  the  south  east,  and  finally  nearly  to  an  east 
course.  Its  length,  (without  reckoning  the  windings  of 
the  channel  in  navigation,)  is  about  260  miles.  It  is 


OF    ILLINOIS.  259 

navigable  at  a  moderate  stage  of  water  to  the  foot  of 
the  rapids.  210  miles;  and  to  Ottawa,  nine  miles  further, 
in  high  water,  for  steam  boats. 

In  going  up  the  river  at  a  low  stage  of  water  the  fol- 
lowing bars  and  impediments  to  the  navigation  exist: 

1.  French  bar,  gravel,  twenty  miles  above  the  mouth, 
near  Smith's  ferry, — three  feet  deep  at  low  water. 

2.  A  bar  fourteen  miles  further  up, — channel  close  to 
an  island^ — two  and  a  half  feet  at  low  stage. 

3.  At  Hodge's  warehouse,  seven  miles  above  the  mouth 
of  Apple  creek,  there  is   difficulty  in  getting  a  point, 
but  no  bar. 

4.  Six  miles  below  Naples   is  a  centre  bar, — channel 
near  the  side  of  the  river. 

5.  At  Meredosha,  is  a  narrow  channel  on  the  opposite 
side,  but  no  getting  to  the  landing  at  very  low  water. 

6.  Three  fourths  of  a  mile  below  Beardstown  is  a  bar, 
extending,  like  a  wing   dam,   nearly   across  the  river, 
excepting  a  narrow  passage  near  the  west  shore.     Any 
boat  that  can  pass  this   bar   will  reach  the  port  of  the 
rapids. 

From  this  imperfect  sketch  of  the  obstructions  to  the 
navigation  of  this  river  at  low  water,  it  will  be  seen  that, 
with  comparatively  trifling  expense,  which  the  legisla- 
ture ought  to  provide  immediately  the  navigation  of  the 
Illinois  may  be  made  good  at  all  stages  of  water. 

At  high  floods  this  river  overflows  its  banks  and  covers 
its  bottoms  for  a  considerable  extent.  The  Mississippi, 
at  extreme  high  water,  backs  up  the  Illinois  about  se- 
venty miles,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Mauvaiseterre. 

Besides  several  villages  and  commercial  towns,  which 


260  A    GAZETTEER 

are  springing  up  on  the  banks  of  the  Illinois,  there  are 
many  landings  for  goods,  and  deposits  for  produce, 
where  temporary  warehouses  have  been  erected. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  collect  data  the  present  sea- 
son, upon  which  to  calculate  the  amount  of  trade  and 
commerce  upon  this  river.  Three  or  four  light  draught 
steam  boats  are  constantly  employed  in  its  trade. 

The  following  account  of  arrivals  of  steam  boats  at 
Naples,  from  1828  to  1831,  will  show  the  increase  during 
those  years.  Since  1831  the  commerce  and  business  of 
the  river  must  have  increased  three  or  four  hundred  per 
cent. 

1828,  the  first  year  of  steam  boat 

navigation1 9  arrivals 

1829  .  . -3   " 

1830 '  .  .  24 

1831 188 

1332,  from  March  4,  to  June  19,  108  arrivals    by 
nineteen  different  boats. 

Illinois  Town,  a  small  village  of  a  dozen  families,  in  St . 
Clair  county,  on  Cahokia  creek,  opposite  St-  Louis. 
Here  is  an  extensive  establishment  for  killing  and 
packing  beef  and  pork  by  Messrs.  Cole  &.  Sons. 

In  the  fall  of  1833  they  paid  the  farmers  about  $17,000 
for  beef  and  pork, — chiefly  for  the  former. 

Indian  Creek,  a  branch  of  Fox  river  from  the  north 
west.  It  enters  the  main  stream  ten  miles  above  Otta- 
wa, and  five  miles  above  the  rapids. 

Large  bodies  of  fine  timber  lie  on  this  stream;  the  sur- 
face of  the  country  is  undulating,  and  the  soil  good. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  261 

Oa  the  20th  of  May,  1832,  fifteen  persons  belonging1  to 
the  families  of  Messrs.  Hall,  Daviess,  and  Pettigrew, 
were  barbarously  massacred  by  the  Indians  near  this 
creek.  Two  young  ladies,  Misses  Halls,  were  taken 
prisoners,  and  afterwards  redeemed,  and  two  young  lads 
made  their  escape. 

The  bodies  of  men,  women,  and  children  were  shock- 
ingly mutilated,  the  houses  of  the  settlers  burned,  their 
furniture  destroyed,  and  their  cattle  killed — all  in  day- 
light, and  within  twenty  miles  of  a  large  force  of  the 
militia!  This  was  done  by  the  Indians  under  the  infa- 
mous Black  Hawk!  A  portion  of  that  band  were  exter- 
minated during  the  same  season  by  the  combined  forces 
of  U.  S.  troops  and  Illinois  militia,  and  the  remainder 
dispersed  over  the  prairies  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

Settlements  are  now  rapidly  forming  on  Indian  creek 
and  Fox  river,  and  much  excellent  country  remains  to 
be  possessed  in  that  quarter. 

Indian  Creek,  a  stream  in  Morgan  county,  near  the 
borders  of  Sangamon,  runs  a  westerly  course,  passes 
through  a  string  of  lakes  in  the  Illinois  bottom,  until  its 
waters  mingle  with  the  Illinois,  near  the  corner  of  the 
base  line  and  the  fourth  principal  meridian. 

It  passes  through  a  beautiful  and  fertile  country,  di- 
versified with  timber  and  prairie. 

The  French  explorers  called  it  La  Balance. 

Indian  Creek,  in  Lawrence  county,  rises  in  the  prai- 
ries west,  runs  south  east,  and  enters  the  Embarras  five 
miles  below  Lawrehceville.  It  has  much  good  land  in 
its  vicinity,  both  timber  and  prairie,  and  a  settlement 
of  150  families. 


262  A    GAZETTEER 

Indian  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Madison  county,  be- 
tween Edwardsville  and  Alton,  that  enters  Cahokia 
creek. 

Indian  Creek,  a  small  stream  that  rises  in  the  east  part 
of  Sangamon  county,  and  enters  the  Sangamon  river 
above  Salt  creek.  The  timber  adjoining  is  excellent, 
and  the  prairie  is  undulating  and  rich- 

Fndian  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  the  northern  part  of 
Bond  county.  It  runs  west  and  enters  Shoal  creek. 

Indian  Creek,  in  Coles  county,  and  a  branch  of  the 
Embarras.  It  rises  in  the  Grand  prairie,  runs  south 
east,  and  enters  the  principal  stream  eight  miles  below 
Charleston.  The  land  is  good,  both  timber  and  prairie, 
and  the  population  forty  or  fifty  families. 

Indian  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county  lies  ten  miles  north 
westerly  from  Fairfield;  surface  level,  soil  of  an  infe- 
rior quality,  with  a  scattering  settlement  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  families. 

Irish  Grove,  in  Sangamon  county,  on  the  road  from 
Springfield  to  Peoria,  eighteen  miles  from  the  former 
place.  It  is  two  miles  from  Salt  creek,  and  is  three  miles 
long  and  one  mile  and  a  half  wide,  and  contains  a  settle- 
ment of  about  fifty  families.  Thft,  land  is  good,  and 
the  timber  is  chiefly  oak  of  various  kinds. 

Irish  Settlement,  in  Randolph  county,  six  miles  north 
east  of  Kaskaskia,  on  Plum  creek. 

Irish  Settlement,  on  the  Ohio  river, in  Pope  county,  about 
fifteen  miles  above  Golconda,  is  on  a  rich  alluvial  soil, 
and  contains  about  one  hundred  families. 

Irvin's  Settlement  lies  in  the  western  part  of  Hamilton 
county.  The  surface  is  undulating,  the  soil  second  rate. 
and  timbered. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  263 

Irvin's  Settlement  lies  in  the  western  part  of  Hamilton 
county.  The  surface  is  undulating,  the  soil  second  rate, 
and  timbered. 

Island  GrovCi  a  large  body  of  excellent  timber,  sur- 
rounded with  rich,  prairie,  in  Sangamon  county,  sixteen 
miles  west  of  Springfield,  and  on  the  road  to  Jackson- 
ville. 

Iroquois  (Riviere  des  Iroq uois,  Fr.)  a  considerable  river 
which  rises  in  the 'north  western  part  of  Indiana,  and 
taking  a  north  west  course,  empties  into  the  Kankakee 
river,  and  thus  forms  one  of  the  heads  of  the  Illinois. 
It  received  its  name  from  the  circumstance  of  a  large 
party  of  the  Iroquois  Indians  being  surprised  and  mas- 
sacred on  its  banks  by  the  Illinois  nation.*  The  Kicka- 
poos  called  it  Mocabella.  Others  have  called  it  Canawa- 
ga.  It  is  probably  the  same  stream  that  the  Commission- 
ers for  settling  the  boundary  between  Illinois  and  India- 
na called  Pickaminck.  It  crosses  the  boundary  line  in 
township  twenty-seven  north,  where  its  width  is  175 
links.  The  country  through  which  it  passes  will  soon 
be  covered  with  settlements,  the  surface  being  fine  and 
undulating,  the  soil  rather  inclined  to  sand,  dry  and  rich, 
and  the  timber  abundant.  Sugar  creek  is  a  principal 
branch. 

Island  Grove,  a  body  of  timber  near  the  west  side  of 
Montgomery  county,  containing  about  600  acres. 

Jackson's  Grove,  a  post  office  in  Fulton  county,  on  the 
road  from  Lewistown  to  Canton,  equi  distant  from  the 
two  places.  Here  is  a  considerable  tract  of  barrens. 

*  Charlevoix. 


264  ,         A  GAZETTEER 

JACKSONVILLE  is  one  of  the  largest  inland  towns  in  the 
state,  and  the  seat  of  justice  for  Morgan  county.  It  is 
situated  on  elevated  ground,  in  the  midst  of  a  most  de- 
lightful prairie,  on  sections  twenty  and  twenty-one, 
township  fifteen  north,  in  range  ten  west  of  the  third 
principal  meridian. 

The  plat  of  this  town  was  laid  off  in  1825,  but  its  ra- 
pid growth  did  not  commence  in  three  or  four  years. 

Few  towns  exhibit  a  finer  prospect  than  does  Jack- 
sonville, from  whatever  side  the  traveler  approaches. 
The  surrounding  prairie  country,  now  in  a  state  of  cul- 
tivation, is  beautifully  undulating,  and  uncommonly  rich. 
The  timber  in  sight  is  either  in  groves,  or  spread  along 
the  waters  of  the  Mauvaiseterre  and  Sandy. 

Jacksonville  has  sixteen  stores,  six  groceries,  two 
druggist's  shops,  two  taverns  or  hotels,  several  respect- 
able boarding  houses,  one  baker,  two  saddlers,  three  hat- 
ters, one  silversmith,  one  watch  maker,  two  tinners, 
three  cabinet  makers,  one  machinist,  one  house  and 
sign  painter,  six  tailors,  two  cordwainers,  four  black- 
smiths, three  chair  makers,  one  coach  maker,  one  wa- 
gon maker,  one  wheel  wright,  eleven  lawyers,  and  ten 
physicians. 

It  has  one  steam  flour  and  one  saw  mill,  a  manufacto- 
ry for  cotton  yarn,  a  distillery,  two  oil  mills,  two  card- 
ing factories,  a  tannery,  and  three  brick  yards,  with  a 
proportion  of  various  mechanics  in  the  building  line, 
and  other  trades. 

The  public  buildings  are,  a  spacious  court  house,  of 
brick,  a  neat  framed  building  for  the  Presbyterian 
house  of  worship,  a  large  brick  building  for  the  Metho- 
dist society,  and  a  handsome  edifice,  also  of  brick,  for 


OF    ILLINOIS.  265 

the  Episcopalian  denomination,*  a  female  academy,  a 
brick  market  house,  and  a  county  jail.  The  college  edi- 
fices are  one  mile  west  from  the  town. 

There  are  two  printing  offices  that  publish  weekly 
papers,  the  "Patriot,"  and  the  "Gazette,*'  n.nd  also  a  book 
and  job  printing  office,  with  a  book  bindery  attached. 

The  present  population  of  Jacksonville  is  about  1,800, 
exclusive  of  the  college  students. 

Situated  near  the  centre  of  the  county,  and  in  the 
midst  of  one  of  the  finest  tracts  of  land,  densely  popu- 
lated with  industrious  and  enterprising  farmers,  with 
the  advantages  of  good  water,  health,  and  good  society, 
Jacksonville  must  continue  to  prosper,  and  doubtless 
will  attract  many  emigrants,  who  are  seeking  an  agree- 
able home  in  the  ''far  west." 

Jacksonville,  a  settlement  in  St.  Clair  county,  on  the 
bluffs,  eight  miles  north  west  from  Belleville. 

Jar-vis's  Settlement  is  near  the  head  of  Ellison,  in  War- 
ren county.  Here  are  about  two  townships  of  valua- 
ble timber,  surrounded  with  immense  tracts  of  fertile 
prairie. 

Jersey  Prairie  is  a  beautiful  and  rich  prairie,  in  Mor- 
gan county,  ten  miles  northerly  from  Jacksonville. 

The  land  is*  rich,  the  timber  adjoining  excellent,  the 


The  Episcopalian  denomination  was  acci- 
dentally omitted  in  the  enumeration  of  the  religious 
denominations  of  Illinois,  given  in  a  previous  portion  of 
this  work.  In  addition  to  the  society  at  Jacksonville, 
two  others  have  been  recently  organized,  viz:  at  Ilush- 
ville  and  at  Galena.  [Pun. 


266  A  GAZETTEER 

people    moral  and   industrious,   the   settlement   exten- 
sive and  populous,  and  decidedly  healthy. 

Job's  Creek  is  a  small  stream  in  the  north  eastern  part 
of  Morgan  county,  runs  north,  passes  through  several 
small  lakes  into  Sangamon  river. 

Job's  Settlement,  called  also  jVeic  Hope,  in  the  north 
west  part  of  McDonough  county,  in  townships  six  and 
seven  north,  range  four  west.  The  timbered  land  in  the 
several  forks  of  Crooked  creek,  and  the  intervening 
tracts  of  prairie,  are  all  of  first  rate  quality.  Hou- 
ston's, Bagsby's,  and  Dicken's  forks,  are  small  stre'ams 
north  of  Job's  fork,  and  are  heads  of  Crooked  creek. 

Johnson's  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  the  south  part  of 
Jo  Daviess  county.  Its  head  is  towards  Rock  river,  its 
course  west,  and  it  enters  the  Mississippi,  thirteen 
miles  above  the  Marais  d'Ogee,  and  twenty-five  miles 
below  Plum  river.  The  land  towards  its  mouth  is  low 
and  marshy;  towards  its  head  it  is  gently  undulating, 
occasional  groves  of  timber,  and  well  adapted  to  farm- 
ing. 

Johnson's  Settlement,  on  Sugar  creek,  in  Clinton  coun- 
ty, twenty  miles  south  of  west  from  Carlyle. 

Jonathan's  Creek  is  a  tributary  of  the  Kaskaskia,  in 
Shelby  county. 

JONESBORO',  the  seat  of  justice  for  Union  county,  is 
situated  on  section  thirty,  twelve  south,  one  west,  in  a 
high,  rolling  tract  of  country,  nine  miles  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi, twenty-five  miles  south  south  east  from  Browns- 
ville, in  latitude  thirty-seven  degrees,  twenty-five  mi- 
nutes north.  It  has  about  twenty-five  families,  four 
stores,  and  several  mechanics.  The  court  house  is  a 


OF    ILLINOIS.  267 

framed  building1,  two  stories  high,  and  finished.  The 
surrounding  country  is  undulating1  and  healthy,  and 
contains  several  good  settlements. 

Jordan  Creek  rises  in  the  interior  of  Wabash  county, 
and  enters  Bon  Pas  creek  near  the  north  western  cor- 
ner of  the  county.  It  passes  through  a  fertile  tract, 
both  timbered  and  prairie,  and  has  a  considerable  set- 
tlement ten  or  twelve  miles  north  west  from  Mount 
Carmel. 

Jordan's  Prairie,  in  Jefferson  county,  six  miles  north 
of  Mount  Vernon,  is  five  miles  long,  and  one  mile  and  a 
half  wide.  The  land  is  second  rate,  and  the  settlement 
contains  about  fifty  families. 

Jordan's  Settlement,  in  Jasper  county,  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Embarras  river.  In  the  centre  of  this  settlement 
is  the  contemplated  county  seat. 

Kane  Post  Office,  in  Macoupen  settlement,  Greene 
county,  eight  miles  south  of  Carrollton. 

Kankakee,  one  of  the  principal  streams  that  form  the 
Illinois  river.  It  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  Indiana, 
near  the  south  bend  of  the  St.  Joseph's  river,  runs  a 
westerly  course  into  Illinois,  where  it  receives  the  Iro- 
quois,  and  forms  a  junction  with  the  Des  Plaines,  in  sec- 
tion thirty-five,  township  thirty-four  north,  and  in  range 
eight  east  from  the  third  principal  meridian.  Here  is 
a  large  body  of  fine  timber,  but  along  the  Kankakee 
there  is  very  little  timber.  It  runs  swiftly,  and  has  a 
lime  stone  bed. 

At  the  ford  of  the  Vincennes  and  Chicago  road  it  is 
two  hundred  yards  wide.  This  is  178  miles  north  of  Vin- 
cennes, and  forty-seven  miles  south  of  Chicago.  The 
prairie  country  through  which  it  passes  is  generally  of 


'268  A    GAZETTEER 

good  soil,  gently  undulating,  and  interspersed  with  sand 
ridges.  Navigation  for  small  craft  can  be  effected 
through  the  Kankakee  and  St.  Joseph. 

This  river  was  discovered  by  the  French  at  a  very 
early  period,  and  was  one  of  the  principal  routes  to  the 
Illinois  country.  Its  aboriginal  name  was  Theakiki,  or 
as  pronounced  in  French,  Te-au-kee-kee,  which,  by  the 
fatality  attendant  upon  many  of  the  aboriginal  names 
carried  through  French  into  English,  has  become  fixed 
in  the  sound  and  orthography  of  Kan-ka-kee. 

KASKASKIA,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Randolph  county, 
and  formerly  the  seat  of  government  of  the  territory  of 
Illinois.  It  is  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Kaskas- 
kia  river,  seven  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

The  early  French  explorers  made  one  of  their  first 
settlements  at  this  spot,  shortly  after  the  visit  of  La 
Salle,  in  1633;  and  so  long  as  the  French  continued  in 
possession  of  the  Illinois  country,  Kaskaskia  was  its  ca- 
pital, and  was  flourishing  and  populous.  In  1721,  when 
Charlevoix  visited  it,  there  existed  a  Jesuit  college.  Its 
ruins  are  now  scarcely  visible,  la  1763,  when  the  coun- 
try east  of  the  Mississippi  was  ceded  by  France  to  Great 
Britain,  it  contained  about  one  hundred  families.  Of 
late  years  its  population  and  trade  has  been  much  re- 
duced. It  numbers  now  about  fifty  or  sixty  families,  a 
majority  of  whom  are  French. 

The.court  house  is  of  brick.  A  Roman  Catholic  cha- 
pel, and  a  nunnery  and  female  boarding  school  are  here. 
Kaskaskia  is  the  location  of  the  land  office  for  this  dis- 
trict. 

Kaskcukia  River,  a  large  and  navigable  stream.     It 


OF    ILLINOIS.  269 

rises  in  Champaign  county,  in  township  twenty  north, 
range  eight  east,  near  the  waters  of  the  Sangamon  and 
the  Vermilion  of  the  Wabash,  and  running  in  a  south 
western  direction  through  Coles,  Shelby,  Fayette,  Clia- 
ton,  St.  Clair,  and  Randolph  counties,  enters  the  Mis- 
sissippi, in  sections  fourteen  and  fifteen,  nine  south, 
seven  west,  about  120  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Ohio. 

It  is  four  hundred  miles  in  length,  following  its  mean- 
derings,  and  receives  a  large  number  of  tributaries, 
which  are  noticed  under  their  respective  names.  An 
extensive  body  of  timber,  from  two  to  ten  miles  wide, 
is  found  along  this  stream,  generally  of  a  good  quali- 
ty, consisting  of  oaks  of  various  kinds,  as  over  cup. 
burr,  water,  white,  black,  red  or  Spanish,  and  post  oak, 
walnut,  hickory,  ash,  hackberryj.elm,  white  and  sugar 
maple,  honey  locust,  cotton  wood,  sycamore,  pecan,  mul- 
berry, sassafras,  box  elder,  etc.  The  country  through 
which  it  passes  is  undulating,  and  fertile,  adapted  to 
the  growth  of  corn,  wheat,  oats,  tobacco,  and  some  cot- 
ton. The  latter  is  not  a  sure  crop  in  all  seasons;  but 
with  proper  care,  a  sufficient  quantity  may  be  raised  for 
home  consumption.  The  bottoms  of  this  stream  are 
from  half  a  mile  to  two  or  three  miles  in  width,  and  sub- 
ject to  inundation  in  high  floods. 

Kellogg^s  Grove,  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  thirty-five 
miles  east  south  east  from  Galena,  and  on  the  road  from 
Dixon's  ferry.  It  is  a  small  grove  of  three  or  four  hun- 
dred acres,  with  several  small  groves  near  it. 

Kellogg's  Grove,  a  small  tract  of  timber  in  La  Salle 
county,  seventeen  miles  north  east  from  Ottawa. 


270  A    GAZETTEER 

Keltner's  Fork,  in  Morgan  county,  is  a  small  branch  of 
Indian  creek.  It  rises  near  Jersey  prairie. 

Keys's  Creek  rises  in  the  interior  of  Pike  county,  and 
enters  the  Snicartee  slough.  The  bottom  is  excellent 
land  proportioned  into  timber  and  prairie.  About  the 
bluffs  very  ;meven,  towards  the  head  of  the  creek  mo- 
derately undulating. 

Keokuck,  is  a  town  site  and  contemplated  place  for 
business,  in  the  Missouri  territory,  four  miles  above  the 
mouth  of  Des  Moines,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  lower  ra- 
pids. It  is  introduced  here  from  its  proximity  to  Illinois, 
and  received  its  name  from  the  celebrated  Sank  chief. 

Kickapoo,  a  stream  that  rises  near  Spoon  river  in  two 
forks  denominated  East  and  West  forks. 

East  fork  rises  in  sections  eleven  and  twelve,  eleven 
north,  seven  east,  runs  a  south  western  course. 

West  fork  rises  in  ten  north,  four  east,  runs  a  south 
easterly  course  and  unites  with  the  east  fork  in  section 
thirty-four,  ten  north,  six  east. 

The  Kickapoo  then  takes  a  southern  course,  and  en. 
ters  the  Illinois  river  two  miles  below  Peoria.  On  the 
forks  there  is  much  excellent  land,  with  groves  and  points 
of  timber,  interspersed  with  barrens.  The  country  bor- 
dering on  the  main  creek  has  considerable  bodies  of  fine 
timber,  but  the  land  is  generally  too  uneven  for  con- 
venient cultivation. 

Kickapoo,  a  branch  of  Salt  creek  in  Sangamon  county. 
It  rises  in  Dawson's  grove,  McLean  county,  in  twenty- 
three  north,  foureast,runs  a  southern  course.and  enters 
Saltcreek  in  Sangamon  county?  in  thenorth  part  of  nine- 
teen north,  three  west,  It  furnishes  good  mill  seats, 


OF    ILLINOIS.  271 

when  the  water  is  not  too  low;  and  the  soil  and  timberon 
each  side  of  the  creek  are  first  rate. 

Kincaid  Creek,  is  a  small  branch  of  Big  Muddy  river, 
which  heads  in  Randolph  county,  runs  south  east,  and 
enters  that  stream  twenty-four  miles  from  its  mouth, 
The  land  along  this  creek  is  rocky,  broken,  heavily  tim- 
bered with  poplar,  oak,  etc.  and  the  settlement  is  small. 
'  Lewis's  Creek,  a  trifling  stream  in  Jackson  county.,  > 
enters  Big  Muddy  near  the  coal  banks,  four  miles  east  of 
Brownsville. 

KinsawVs  Settlement,  near  the  northern  side  of  Gallatio 
county,  on  the  road  from  Carmi  to  Equality.  The  land 
is  rather  inferior,  and  the  settlement  considerable. 

Knight's  Prairie  lies  west  of  McLeansboro',  in  Hamil- 
ton county,  with  asettlement  around  it. 

Knob  Prairie,  fifteen  miles  north  east  from  Frankfort, 
in  the  corner  of  Franklin  county,  is  low  and  wet,  and 
has  a  small  settlement. 

KNOXVILLE  is  the  county  seat  of  Knox  county,  and 
is  pleasantly  situated  on  an  elevated  and  rich  prairie  on 
the  north  side,  and  adjoining  the  timber  of  Haw  creek. 
It  is  on  section  twenty-eight,  eleven  north,  and  two 
east  of  the  fouth  principal  meridian.  It  was  laid  off 
about  two  years  since,  contains  now  fifteen  or  twenty 
families  and  bids  fair  to  become  a  thriving  inland  town. 
The  surrounding  country  is  rich  and  settling  fast  with  in- 
dustrious farmers. 

Knox  Settlement,  in  Putnam  county,  on  Sandy,^thirteen 
miles  south  east  from  Hennepin,  is  a  large  and  flourish- 
ing settlement. 

Lake  Fork,  a  main  branch  of  Macoupen  creek, -which 


^72  A    GAZETTEER 

rises  in  the  prairie  between  the  heads  of  Shoal  creek, 
and  Sangamon  waters,  and  near  Macoup6n  point,  which 
see.  Below  the  point  it  passes  through  a  small  lake,  or 
pond. 

Lake  Fork,  a  branch  of  Shoal  creek,  that  rises  in 
seven  north,  five  west,  runs  a  north  eastern  direction, 
and  enters  the  west  fork  of  Shoal  creek  in  Montgo- 
mery county. 

Lake  Fork  of  Salt  Creek,  is  formed  by  a  long  lake  in 
the  north  eastern  part  of  Sangamon  county,  runs  a  north 
course  and  forms  one  of  the  heads  of  Salt  creek.  It  is 
in  township  seventeen  north,  and  range  two  and  three 
west. 

Lamaster's  Settlement,  is  in  Schuyler  county,  on  Crane 
creek,  four  miles  south  of  Rushville. 

Lamotle  Creek,  rises  in  the  interior  of  Crawford  county, 
runs  east  and  enters  the  W abash  below  Palestine. 

Lamotte  Prairie,  is  a  sandy  and  rich  tract  of  prairie,  in 
Crawford  county,  eight  miles  long,  and  from  one  to  five 
miles  broad.  The  soil  is  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of 
corn. 

La  Salle  Prairie,  a  prairie  and  large  settlement  in 
Peoria  county,  adjoining  Peoria  lake.  The  southern 
part  is  sandy,  rich,  and  undulating;  the  northern  portion 
is  a  mixtu  re  of  clay  and  sand,  elevated  in  the  middle. 

La  Salle  prairie  is  an  elevated  bottom,  above  the  high- 
est floods,  ten  miles  long,  and  from  three  to  four  miles 
wide.  At  the  shore  of  the  lake  the  water  is  deep,  and 
the  landing  good. 

The  settlement  contains  about  100  families  and  is 
fifteen  miles  distant  from  the  county  seat. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  273 

Lavghlon's,  an  old  trading-  house  and  settlement  on  the 
Des  Plaines,  in  Cook  county,  twelve  miles  west  of  Chi- 
cago. 

LAWRENCEVILLE,  the  county  seat  of  Lawrence  county. 
It  is  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Embarras  river, 
nine  miles  from  Vincennes,  on  the  St.  Louis  road,  and 
on  an  elevated  ridge.  It  contains  three  stores,  two 
groceries,  two  taverns,  and  sixty  or  seventy  families. 

The  court  house  is  of  brick,  and  is  a  respectable 
building.  A  saw  and  grist  mill  is  on  the  Embarras,  ad- 
joining. 

Lebanon,  a  beautifully  situated  village,  in  St.  Clair 
county,  twelve  miles  north  east  from  Belleville,  and  one 
mile  east  of  Silver  creek. 

It  is  on  elevated  grpund,  surrounded  with  a  beauti- 
ful, populous,  and  well  cultivated  district  of  country, 
and  on  the  Vincennes  and  St.  Louis  stage  road. 

Lebanon  has  two  steam  mills,  one  for  sawing  lumber, 
and  the  other  for  manufacturing  grain, — an  ox  mill  for 
flouring,  on  an  inclined  plane,  a  post  office,  two  public 
houses,  five  stores,  one  grocery,  three  physicians,  me- 
chanics' shops  of  various  kinds,  and  about  fifty  families. 
The  Methodist  seminary,  located  in  the  immediate  vi- 
cinity of  Lebanon,  has  been  noticed  under  the  head  of 
"EDUCATION,"  in  the  first  part  of  this  work. 

The  Methodist  society  embraces  the  largest  propor- 
tion of  the  religious  community  about  Lebanon.  There 
is  a  large  society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  a  small  society  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church. 

Lemarde  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  seven  milas  north 
18 


274 


A    GAZETTEER 


west  from  Fair-field,  about  six  miles  long,  and  threr 
wide,  of  inferior  quality,  with  a  small  population. 

Lewis's  Settlement,  in  the  southern  part  of  Pope  county, 
above  and  opposite  the  mouth  of  Cumberland  river. 
This  is  the  oldest  settlement  in  this  part  of  the  state, 
and  contains  sixty  or  seventy  families. 

LEWISTOWN,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Fulton  county,  si- 
tuated on  section  twenty-two,  five  north,  three  east, 
four  miles  east  of  Spoon  river,  and  twelve  miles  from 
the  Illinois. 

It  has  three  stores,  two  taverns,  a  framed  court  house, 
painted  white,  and  about  thirty  families.  Lewistown  is 
surrounded  with  a  heavy  body  of  timber,  chiefly  of  white 
and  other  oaks;  the  soil  rather  thin,  and  surface 
broken. 

Lick  Creek,  a  branch  of  Sugar  creek,  of  Sangamon 
county.  It  rises  on  the  western  side  of  the  county, 
takes  an  easterly  course  through  a  rich  and  populous 
tract,  with  good  timber,  and  enters  Sugar  creek  a  short 
distance  above  its  mouth.  The  settlements  extend  its 
whole  length,  and  the  borders  of  the  prairie  adjoining 
are  well  populated. 

Lick  Run  is  a  branch  of  Indian  creek,  in  Morgan 
county,  near  the  bluffs  of  the  Illinois. 

Lincoln,  a  post  office  and  town  site  in  Macoupen  coun- 
ty, near  the  head  of  Wood  river,  and  on  the  road  from 
Edwardsville  to  Springfield.  It  is  thought  to  be  an  eli- 
gible situation,  and  will  soon  be  surrounded  by  a  large 
settlement. 

Linden  Bottom,  in  Greene  county,  south  of  the  Macou- 
pen, called  also  the  "Richwoods,"  It  is  a  fine  tract  of 


OF    ILLINOIS.  275 

timbered  land,  elevated  and  rich,  yet  in  appearance  its 
surface  resembles  alluvion. 

It  has  a  large  settlement  extending  from  the  Macou- 
pen  river  to  Otter  creek. 

Linden  Grove,  a  small  body  of  excellent  timber  in  the 
north  east  part  of  Morgan  county,  surrounded  with  rich, 
undulating  prairie.  , 

Lynnmlle,  a  town  site  in  Morgan  county,  seven  miles 
south  west  from  Jacksonville. 

It  is  a  new  place,  in  the  prairie,  at  the  head  of  Wal- 
nut creek,  has  a  few  houses,  and  is  settled  chiefly  by 
English  people. 

Little  Beaucoup  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Perry  coun- 
ty, and  a  branch  of  Big  Beaucoup  creek,  between  that 
stream  and  Little  Muddy. 

Little  Crooked  Creek  rises  in  Washington  county, 
near  Nashville,  runs  a  north  course,  and  enters  Crooked 
creek  near  its  mouth.  Land  good,  surface  undulating, 
and  a  mixture  of  timber  and  prairie. 

Little  Indian  Creek,  in  Morgan  county,  rises  in  Silvan 
grove,  runs  south  west,  and  enters  Indian  creek. 

Little  Mackinau  is  a  stream  in  Tazewell  county,  that 
runs  westward,  and  enters  into  the  Mackinau.  The 
settlement  here  is  extensive. 

Little  Missouri  Creek,  a  branch  of  Crooked  creek,  in 
the  western  part  of  Schuyler  county  and  eastern  part 
of  Adams  county,  twelve  miles  from  Rushville.  Green's 
settlement  is  on  the  southern,  and  Brown's  settlement  on 
the  northern  side  of  this  creek.  The  country  is  a  mix- 
ture of  timber  and  prairie. 


276  A    GAZETTEER 

Little  Jlount  Prairie  is  in  Wayne  county,  three  miles 
south  west  from  Fairfield,  about  two  miles  long  and  one 
wide. 

Here  is  a  small  but  high  mound,  covered  over  with 
the  graves  of  an  aboriginal  people. 

Little  Muddy  is  one  of  the  four  heads  of  the  Big  Mud- 
dy river.  It  rises  in  the  south  eastern  corner  of  Wash- 
ington county,  crosses  the  line  into  Jefferson,  then  into 
Franklin,  and  finally  into  Jackson,  where  it  enters  the 
parent  stream,  on  the  right  side,  in  section  thirteen, 
eight  south,  one  west. 

It  has  good  timber  and  prairie  on  both  sides. 

Little  Piasau,  called  also  Cave  Spring  branch,  rises  in 
a  large  spring  among  the  bluffs  of  Lower  Alton,  and 
passes  through  the  town  into  the  Mississippi. 

Little  Saline,  in  Gallatin  county,  rises  in  the  bluffs  of 
the  Ohio  river,  runs  a  north  course,  and  enters  the 
8outh  fork  of  the  Saline  creek,  eighteen  miles  above 
Equality.  It  waters  a  tolerably  good  country,  with  a 
Scattering  population* 

Little  Sandy,  a  small  creek  that  heads  in  Sweet's  prai- 
rie, in  the  south  part  of  Morgan  county,  and  enters  San- 
ly  creek,  about  the  bluffs  of  the  Illinois,  A  large  tract 
of  timbered  land  is  on  it. 

Little  Silver  Creek  rises  in  the  Looking  Glass  prairie, 
in  the  north  eastern  part  of  St.Clair  county,  runs  south 
west  past  Lebanon,  and  enters  Silver  creek  two  miles 
below  that  village. 

Little  Vermilion  rises  in  the  prairies  west  of  Fox  river, 
runs  south,  and  enters  the  Illinois  near  the  foot  of  the 


OF    ILLINOIS.  277 

rapids.  By  some,  the  high  ground  near  its  mouth  is 
thought  to  be  an  eligible  town  site.  Its  Indian  name  is 
Citm-sauk-in,  or  Tomahawk. 

Little  Wabash  River  rises  in1  township  eleven  north, 
range  six  east,  in  the  large  prairies  towards  the  head 
waters  of  the  Kaskaskia,  and  running  south  through  the 
counties  of  Coles,  Effingham,  Clay,  Wayne,  Edwards, 
and  White,  enters  the  big  Wabash,  in  the  north  east 
corner  of  Gallatin  county,  seven  south,  ten  east.  It  is 
about  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  in  a  direct  line  from 
its  heads  to  its  mouth,  though  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  to  follow  its  meanderirtgs. 

Its  principal  tributaries  are  Skillet  fork.  Fox,  and 
Muddy.  It  is  navigable  for  flat  boats  and  small  craft, 
at  a  full  stage  of  water, — about  forty  of  the  former  leav- 
ing it  annually,  from  Wayne  and  White  counties,  n-ith 
beef,  pork,  corn,  cattle,  and  some  tobacco,  for  the  New 
Orleans  market. 

The  timber  upon  the  banks  of  the  Little  Wabash  is 
generally  heavy,  and  of  a  good  quality,  and  is  several 
miles  in  width.  In  Clay  county  is  some  poplar. 

The  country  adjoining  is  generally  fertile,  but  the 
bottoms  are  subject  to  inundation  at  high  floods.  The 
country  between  the  Little  Wabash  and  the  Skillet 
fork,  is  generally  flat,  and  in  some  places  inclined  to 
be  wet. 

Several  valuable  mills  have  been  erected  on  this 
stream  in  White  county. 

Little  Woods  is  a  tract  of  timber  on  Fox  river,  above 
the  "Big  Woods."  The  land  of  excellent  quality,  hut 
swampy  in  places. 


273  A    GAZETTEER 

Livingston,  a  village  on  the  national  road,  in  Clark 
county.  It  is  in  the  timber  of  Big1  creek,  fourteen  miles 
from  Terre  Haute;  in  Indiana,  and  ten  miles  west  of 
north  from  Darwin.  Contains  several  families. 

Lockwood's  'Settlement,  near  the  South  fork  of  Spoon 
river,  on  the  border  of  Warren  county,  township  ten 
north,  range  one  west.  An  excellent  tract  of  country. 

Lockwood's  Settlement  is  in  the  south  part  of  Hamilton 
county.  The  surface  is  rolling,  timbered,  and  the  soil 
second  rate. 

Locust  Creek,  a  branch  of  Elkhorn  creek,  in  Wash- 
ington county,  and  has  a  settlement  on  it  three  miles 
south  of  Nashville;  country  chiefly  prairie. 

Locust  Grove,  a  post  office  and  settlement  in  Shelby 
county,  five  miles  east  of  Shelbyville. 

Logan's  Settlement  is  in  a  good  tract  of  country,  in  Gal- 
latin  county,  eighteen  miles  north  west  from  Shawnee- 
town. 

Lollard's  Settlement  is  ten  miles  north  west  from  Shaw- 
neetown,  in  Gallatin  county,  and  contains  much  good 
land.  . 

Long  Creek,  a  branch  of  Big  creek,  in  Macon  county. 

Long  Grove  lies  west  of  Au  Sable  grove,  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  La  Salle  county. 

Long  Prairie,  thirteen  miles  north  west  from  Mount 
Carmel,  in  W abash  county,  is  undulating,  second  rate 
land,  with  twenty-five  or  thirty  families. 

Long  Prairie,  in  Edwards  county,  north  of  Albion, 
nine  miles  long,  and  from  one  mile  to  one  and  a  half 
wide,  interspersed  with  groves  and  points  of  timber. 

Long  Prairie,  a  branch  of  the  Twelve  Mile  prairie  of 


or  ILLINOIS.  279 

Clay  county,  projecting  into  Wayne.  It  is  eight  or  ten 
miles  long,  three  miles  wide,  level,  poor  soil,  and  has  a 
poulation  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  families. 

Long  Prairie,  in  Jefferson  county,  five  miles  west  of 
Mount  Vernon,  is  four  miles  long,  and  one  mile  and  a 
half  wide. 

It  lies  between  the  Middle  and  West  forks  of  Big 
Muddy  river,  is  tolerably  good  land,  and  contains  a  set- 
tlement of  forty  families. 

Looking  Glass  Prairie,  a  large,  rich,  beautiful,  and 
undulating  prairie,  lying  between  Silver  and  Sugar 
creeks,  and  on  the  eastern  border  of  St.  Glair  county. 
It  commences  near  the  base  line,  in  range  six  west, 
and  extends  northward  about  twenty  miles  into  Madi- 
son county,  and  is  from  six  to  ten  miles  in  width.  Few 
prairies  in  the  state  present  more  eligible  situations  for 
farms  than  this. 

Extensive  settlements  are  on  its  borders,  and  project 
into  its  interior. 

Lortoii's  Prairie,  on  the  north  side  of  Apple  creek,  in 
the  upper  part  of  Greene  county.  It  is  a  tract  of  excel- 
lent land,  has  good  timber,  and  contains  about  eighty 
families. 

Lost  Creek,  in  Marion  county,  rises  in  the  Grand 
prairie,  runs  south  west,  and  enters  the  Kaskaskia 
river,  near  the  mouth  of  Crooked  creek. 

Lost  Prairie,  in  Perry  county,  seven  miles  west  of 
Pinckneyville,  is  three  miles  long,  and  one  mile  and  a 
half  wide.  It  has  a  rich  soil,  high,  undulating  surface, 
and  a  good  settlement.  There  are  two  prairies  between 
this  and  Pinckneyville,  called  Eaton  and  Conant  prai- 
ries. 


280  A   GAZETTEER 

Loup  Creek,  an  insignificant  branch  of  Silver  creek, 
in  St.  Clair  county,  in  township  one  south,  range  seven 
west. 

Lul:eii's  Prairie  is  on  the  south  side  of  Lawrence 
county,  with  a  settlement  of  fifty  or  sixty  families. 

Lusk's  Creek,  a  small  stream,  running  southwardly 
through  Pope  county,  and  entering  the  Ohio  at  Gol- 
conda. 

Mackinau )  (Michilimacinac)  a  navigable  stream  in 
Tazewell  county.  It  rises  in  the  prairie  near  the  cen- 
tre of  .JcLean  county,  and  after  receiving  several'small 
branches,  runs  south  westwardly  through TazeweJl  coun- 
ty, and  enters  the  Illinois  three  miles  below  Pekin. 

It  is  a  clear  stream,  and  has  Little  Mackinau,  Rock, 
Walnut,  and  Panther  creeks,  for  its  branches.  The 
Mackinau  bottoms  are  rich,  but  its  bluffs  are  very 
broken,  thin  soil,  from  one  to  two  miles  in  width,  and 
the  timber  chiefly  white  oak,  and  some  cedar.  The 
prairies  adjoining  are  rolling,  dry,  and  tolerably  good. 
Towards  its  head  the  land  is  less  broken,  timber  va- 
rious, and  soil  rich.  It  has  a  number  of  mill  seats. 

JIackinaii,  a  small  village,  and  formerly  the  county 
seat  of  Tazewell.  It  is  situated  on  the  Mackioau  creek, 
in  twenty-four  north,  two  west,  sixteen  miles  north  of 
east  from  Pekin,  surrounded  with  a  large  settlement. 
It  is  located  in  the  prairie,  on  the  south  east  side  of 
Mackinau. 

Macon  County  Prairie,  an  extensive  tract,  from  twelve 
to  twenty  miles  in  width,  lying  north  of  Decatur,  and 
betwixt  the  North  fork  of  the  Sangamon  and  Salt  creek. 
Some  parts  are  level  and  wet. — other  portions  dry  and 
undulating. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  28  I 

JJacoupiu  Creek,  a  considerable  stream  that  rises  in 
the  north  part  of  Macon  county;  runs  soutn  westerly, 
passes  through  Greene  county,  and  enters  the  Illinois 
river  twenty-six  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  ?,Iis- 
sissippi,  in  section  twenty-four,  eight  north,  fourteen 
west  of  the  third  principal  meridian. 

Its  branches  are  PhilPs,  Dry  fork,  Bear,  and  Hodge's 
creeks,  and  Lake  fork. 

The  country  along  its  banks  is  generally  fertile,  suit- 
ably proportioned  into  timber  and  prairie,  and  has  a  line 
of  settlements  through  Macoupin  and  Greene  counties., 

Macoupen  is  aboriginal,  and  in  all  the  French  authors, 
spelled  Jfu-qua-pin,  but  it  has  become  legalized  on  the 
statute  books  of  the  state  in  the  uncouth  form  Driven  at 
the  head  of  this  article,  and  usually  pronounced  by  the 
people,  Jla-goo-pin. 

This  word  is  said  to  be  the  Indian  name  of  a  vegetable 
with  a  large  round  leaf,  growing  in  the  lakes  and  ponds 
of  Illinois,  called  by  some  people  "splatter-dock,"  and 
found  plentifully  near  this  stream. 

The  large  roots  of  this  plant,  if  eaten  raw,  are  very 
deleterious.  The  Indians,  in  early  times,  dug  holes  in 
the  earth,  which  they  walled  with  stone,  and  after  heat- 
ing them  with  large  fires,  put  in  the  roots,  covered  them 
with  earth,  and  in  two  days,  the  rank,  poisonous  taste 
was  gone.  They  were  then  put  on  polls,  and  dried  for 
food.  In  this  foriii  they  was  eaten  by  the  natives.* 

Jlacoupen  Prairie,  a  large  prairie  in  Greene  county, 
between  the  Piasau  and  Macoupen,  moderately  undula- 

*See  Charlevoix's  voyage  to  North  America,  1721. 


282  A    GAZETTEER 

ting,  rich,  and  rapidly  settling.   The  road  from  Alton  to 
Carrollton  passes  through  this  prairie. 

Towards  the  Illinois  river,  on  the  west,  and  the  Ma- 
coupen  creek  on  the  east,  are  extensive  bodies  of  fine 
timber.  Emigrants  from  Vermont,  and  other  northern 
and  eastern  states  are  covering  over  this  part  of  the 
county  with  fine  farms.  The  settlement  in  the  south 
part  of  this  prairie  is  sometimes  called  South  Greene. 

Macoupen,  Settlement  lies  near  the  timber  bordering 
upon  the  Macoupen  creek  and  prairie,  in  Greene  coun- 
ty, nine»  miles  south  of  Carrollton.  This  settlement 
was  commenced  in  December,  1S16,  by  Daniel  Allen, 
and  John  and  Paul  Harriford,  and  was  then  the  most 
northern  white  settlement  in  the  Illinois  territory.  The 
prairie  land  is  rich,  but  rather  level,  and  the  timber  ad- 
joining good.  Kane  post  office  is  in  this  settlement. 

Jlacoupen  Point,  a  noted  stand  at  the  junction  of  the 
roads  from  Edwardsville  to  Springfield,  and  from  Hills- 
boro'  to  Morgan  county  and  Beardstown,  sometimes 
called  Henderson's  stand. 

It  is  in  the  north  west  corner  of  Montgomery  county, 
at  the  head  of  the  timber,  on  the  South  fork  of  the  Ma- 
coupen. South,  along  the  roads  to  Edwardsville  and 
Hillsboro',  the  surface  of  the  prairie  is  flat  and  wet. 
North,  towards  Sugar  creek,  it  is  dry,  and  undulating. 

.Maddux  Settlement  is  in  Clinton  county,  near  the 
mouth  of  Crooked  creek,  eight  miles  south  of  Carlyle. 

.Manchester,  a  post  town  in  Morgan  county,  on  section 
twenty-eight,  thirteen  north,  eleven  west  of  the  third 
principal  meridian.  It  is  on  the  main  road  leading  from 
Carrollton' to  Jacksonville,  eighteen  miles  from  each 


OF    ILLINOIS.  283 

place,  on  the  north  side  of  Mark's  prairie,  and  surround- 
ed with  a  body  of  excellent  timbered  and  prairie  land. 

•Mantua,  a  large  settlement  in  a  timbered  tract,  in  the 
south  western  part  of  White  county,  ten  miles  from 
Carmi.  Duncanton  is  the  post  office. 

Marais  d'Ogee  [Mah-re-do-she]  is  a  sluggish  stream,  and 
a  series  of  swamps,  extending  from  Rock  river  to  the 
Mississippi,  and  constituting  the  present  boundary  be- 
tween the  counties  of  Rock  Island  and  Jo  Daviess. 

It  is  about  twenty  miles  long,  and  in  some  places  one 
rniler  and  in  other  places  twenty  or  thirty  yards  wide. 
Near  the  Mississippi,  where  the  road  crosses,  it  is  a 
clear  stream  of  water,  twenty  yards  wide,  and  sandy 
bottom.  It  is  supposed  that  a  canal  might  be  cut,  at 
very  little  expense,  through  this  swamp  into  Rock  river. 

Marchanfs  Settlement,  on  the  north  side  of  Fulton  coun- 
ty, twenty-four  miles  east  of  north  from  Lewistown. 

Marine  Settlement,  a  flourishing  settlement  in  Madison 
county  .  between  the  east  and  west  forks  of  Silver  creek, 
and  twelve  miles  east  of  Edwardsville. 

This  settlement  was  commenced  by  Captains  Bl'ake- 
man  and  Allen,  in  1819.  The  settlement  is  large,  and 
spread  over  an  undulating,  rich,  and  beautiful  prairie, 
and  is  healthy  and  well  watered. 

Markham's  Settlement,  in  Macoupen  county,  on  Taylor's 
creek,  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  west  of  Carlinville. 

The  land  is  good,  surface  undulating,  and  equally  di- 
vided into  timber  and  prairie. 

Marrow  Bone,  a  small  creek  in  the  north  part  of  Shel- 
by county.  It  rises  in  Macon  county,  runs  south  east 


A    GAZETTEER 

Through  Bone's  settlement,  into  the  West  fork  of  the 
Kaskaskia. 

JlarshaWa  Prairie,  north  of  Cox's  prairie,  fourteen 
miles  north  east  of  Brownsville,  in  Jackson  county,  is 
rich,  undulating  land,  and  the  settlement  contains  a 
dozen  families. 

.Martin's  Creek,  and  Settlement,  in  Wayne  county,  on 
Elm  river,  five  miles  north  of  F  airfield.  The  settlement 
consists  of  fifty  or  sixty  families,  and  the  creek  is  a 
branch  of  Elm  river. 

JIartinsvillc,a.  town  site  on  the  national  road,  in  Clark 
county. 

JIason,  a  small  stream  that  enters  the  Illinois  river 
from  the  south,  twelve  miles  below  the  junction  of  the 
Kankakee  with  the  Des  Plaiaes. 

>ii  Grave,  in  La  Salle  county,  lies  eighteen  miles 
norlh  easterly  from  Ottawa.  It  lies  on  the  Little  Ma- 
sou,  is  five  miles  long,  and  one  mile  wide, — a  tract  of 
excellent  land.  It  is  called  also  Virginia  Grove. 

^lason's  Prairie  and  settlement  is  in  the  south  west- 
ern part  of  Lawrence  county,  from  twenty  to  twenty- 
five  miles  from  Lawrenceville,  with  seventy  or  eighty 
families. 

Jttauvaiseterre,  a  stream  in  Morgan  county,  that  rises 
in  the  prairie  on  the  borders  of  Sangamon  county,  in  se- 
veral branches,  runs  a  west  course  near  Jacksonville, 
arid  empties  itself  into  the  Illinois  river  two  miles  be- 
low Naples. 

Above  Jacksonville,  it  is  divided  into  North,  South, 
and  Brier  or  Middle  forks. 


OF    ILLINOIS. 

For  beauty  of  situation,  fertility  of  soil,  salubrity  of 
climate,  a  due  proportion  of  timber  and  prairie,  good 
water,  and  almost  every  other  advantage  for  agricultu- 
ral purposes,  no  country  in  the  wide  spread  valley  bf  the 
west  exceeds  this,  and  yet,  by  a  most  singular  misno- 
mer, the  French,  who  explored  the  Illinois  river,  called 
it  "Mauvaise  terre" — poor  land. 

MAYSVILLE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Clay  county,  is  si 
tuated  on  the  borders  cf  the  Twelve  Mile  prairie,  and 
near  the  Little  Wabash  river,  on  the  stage  road  to  Vin- 
cennes. 

It  has  three  taverns,  three  stores,  and  about  twenty 
families.  The  adjacent  prairie  is  undulating,  and  se- 
cond rate. 

v}IcAda.m*s  Settlement  is  in  Bond  county,  four  miles 
south  of  Greenville;  the  land  level,  and  tolerably  good, 
and  the  settlement  large. 

MACOMB,  the  seat  of  justice  of  McDonough  county,  is 
situated  on  elevated  ground,  in  a  delightful  prairie,  be- 
tween Drowning  fork  and  Town  fork,  near  the  centre 
of  the  county.  It  is  on  the  south  west  quarter  of  sec- 
tion thirty-one,  six  north,  two  west,  and  was  laid  off  in 
1831.  In  1832  it  contained  three  stores,  one  grocery, 
about  twenty  families,  and  promises  soon  to  become  a 
pleasant  inland  village,  with  a  considerable  population 
around  it. 

JIcCorcTs  Settlement,  in  Bond  county,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  West  fork  of  Shoal  creek,  eight  miles  north  west 
of  Greenville. 

The  land  is  good,  and  there  is  a  due  proportion  of 
timber  and  prairie. 


286  A  GAZETTEER 

JlcCormack's  Settlement,  lies  towards  the  south  west- 
ern part  of  Pope  county. 

JlcCreery's  Settlement,  in  Franklin  county,  ten  miles 
east  of  Frankfort,  in  a  timbered  tract  of  country.  The 
timber  consists  of  oaks  of  different  kinds,  hickory,  some 
poplar,  and  other  varieties.  The  soil  is  good,  rather 
undulating,  and  the  settlement  large. 

^IcEaver^s  Settlement  is  six  miles  south  east  of  Carlyle, 
in  Clinton  county,  on  the  waters  of  Crooked  creek. 

^IcFatridge^s  Settlement,  in  Johnson  county,  eight  miles 
north  east  from  Vienna,  on  the  old  road  from  Golconda 
to  Kaskaskia,  and  on  the  waters  of  Cedar  creek.  The 
surface  is  rather  broken,  the  soil  thin,  and  the  settle- 
ment contains  sixty  or  seventy  families. 

•McKee's  Creek,  in  the  military  tract,  enters  the  Il- 
linois river,  in  the  north  east  part  of  Pike  county,  in 
township  three  south,  in  range  two  west  of  the  fourth 
principal  meridian.  It  is  made  up  of  three  principal 
branches,  known  by  the  names  of  North,  Middle,  and 
West  forks. 

North  Fork,  which  is  the  longest  branch,  rises  in  Ad- 
ams county,  near  the  base  line,  in  range  five  west,  runs 
a  devious  course  into  Schuyler  county,  and  receives  a 
number  of  small  tributaries.  Its  general  course  to  the 
Illinois  river  is  south  east. 

JJiddle  Fork  originates  near  the  boundary  of  Pike  and 
Schuyler  counties, and  enters  the  west  fork  a  few  miles 
above  its  junction  with  the  main  stream. 

West  Fork  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  Pike  county, 
where  it  interlocks  with  the  waters  that  fall  into  the 
Mississippi,  and  after  running  an  eastern  course,  joins 


OF    ILLINOIS. 


the  main  stream  a  few  miles  above  its  mouth.  The  land 
on  McKee's  creek  and  branches  is  excellent,  suitably 
proportioned  into  timber  and  prairie,  which  is  gently 
undulating  and  rich.  The  settlements  already  are  large, 
and  population  is  increasing  from  emigration.  The  same 
obstruction  to  rapid  settlement  exists  here  as  in  all  por- 
tions of  the  military  tract.  3Iuch  good  land  is  held  by 
non  residents.  Could  the  land  all  be  had  at  a  reasonable 
price,  this  tract  of  country  would  soon  be  overspread 
with  large  farms. 

JIcKee's  Branch,  a  fork  of  Sugar  cr^ek,  in  Schuyler 
county,  is  a  mill  stream,  three  miles  north  of  Rushville, 

McLEANSBORo',  the  county  seat  of  Hamilton  county, 
situated  on  high  ground,  in  township  five  south,  and  in 
range  seven  east  from  the  third  principal  meridian.  The 
settlement  around  is  pretty  extensive,  and  the  town 
contains  twenty  or  twenty-five  families. 

J\IcRaney's  Creek  is  a  small  stream  that  heads  in  Adams 
county,  passes  into  Pike,  and  enters  the  Snicartee  slough- 
The  land  is  proportionably  divided  into  timber  and  prai- 
rie, and  of  a  good  quality. 

Jlcacham's  Settlement,  on  the  head  of  Flag  river,  in  Cook 
county. 

Mechanic  sburg,  a  town  site  in  the  prairie  near  Clear 
creek,  fifteen  miles  east  of  Springfield,  on  the  road  to 
Decatur. 

Menomone,  a  stream  in  the  north  west  corner  of  the 
state.  It  rises  in  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin  territory, 
runs  south  west,  and  empties  into  the  Mississippi  three 
miles  below  the  boundary  line.  The  surface  near  its 
mouth  is  broken,  and  towards  its  head  are  rich  prairies, 


288  A  GAZETTEER 

and  rich  mines  of  lead.  The  timber  is  scarce,  in  grove* 
and  patches  for  six  or  eight  miles  up.  Length  about 
.fifteen  or  twenty  miles. 

Jfercdosha,  a  town  site,  landing,  and  place  of  consider 
able  business  on  the  Illinois  river  in  Morgan  county, 
six  miles  above  Naples.  It  is  situated  on  an  elevated 
sand  ridge,  with  a  good  landing  when  the  water  is  not 
too  low.  Here  are  two  steam  mills,  several  stores,  and 
thirty  or  forty  families. 

Meredosha  can  be  approached  from  the  bluffs  and  table 
land,  without  crossing  any  lakes  or  sloughs,  which  is  not 
the  case  with  other  towns  on  the  river  in  Morgan  county. 
Much  of  the  mercantile  business  of  Jacksonville  passes 
through  this  place.  Above  the  town  is  a  singular  bayou, 
from  whence  its  name,  which,  in  French  orthography, 
would  be,  Jllarais  d'  Ogee. 

Meredosha  Z?ay,  is  a  body  of  water  connected  with  the 
Illinois  river,  above  Meredosha.  It  is  seven  miles  Iong5 
its  width  varies  from  one  half  to  one  mile. 

.Middle  Fork  of  Big  Muddy  River  ^  one  of  the  four  heads 
of  Big  Muddy  river,  in  Franklin  county.  It  rises  on  the 
borders  of  Hamilton  county,  runs  asouth  western  course, 
and  enters  the  main  stream  a  few  miles  west  of  Frank- 
fort. The  country  along  its  borders  is  divided  into  tim- 
ber and  prairie;  the  surface  tolerably  level,  and  the  soil 
good  second  rate. 

Middle  Fork  Settlement,  in  Jefferson  county,  lies  be- 
tween Mount  Vernon  and  Long  prairie;  a  timbered 
tract,  good  sugar  tree  groves,  and  apleasantsettlement 

Middle  Fork  of  Shoal  Creek  rises  in  the  prairies  of 
Montgomery  county,  eight  north,  four  west, passes  Hills- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  289 

boro',    and  enters  Shoal  creek  about  four  miles  above 
Bond  county  line. 

Middle  Fork  of  Silver  Creek  rises  in  the  prairies  north 
east  of  the  Marine  settlement,  in  Madison  county,  runs 
south  and  enters  the  East  fork 

Jliddltton's  Ferry,  on  the  Raskaskia  river,  twenty 
miles  east  of  Belleville,  and  fourteen  miles  south  east- 
erly of  Lebanon. 

Middletown,  in  Sangramon  county,  is  laid  off  in  theprai- 
rje,  between  the  timber  of  Salt  creek  and  Irish  grove, 
near  Musick's  station.  It  has  one  store,  and  may  be- 
come a  village. 

JUiers's  Settlement  is  in  Bond  county,  on  the  west  sido 
of  Beaver  creek,  and  two  miles  south  of  Greenville. 

Mill  Creek,  a  small  stream  that  rises  in  the  south  west- 
ern part  of  Edgar  county,  .runs  diagonally  through  Clark, 
and  enters  the  Wabas'h  near  York. 

Jtfill  Creek,  a  small  mill  stream  in  Randolph  county. 
It  enters  the  Kaskaskia  river  on  the  east  side,  one  mile 
above  the  town  of  Kaskaskia. 

Miller's  Settlement  adjoins  the  Mississippi,  on  the 
w«st  side  of  Alexander  county.  Here  is  some  bottom, 
and  rolling  upland,  generally  good.  Population  about 
thirty  families. 

J\filler's  Settlement,  in  Macon  county,  four  miles  west 
of  Decatur,  in  the  south  side  of  Macon  county  prairie. 
Soil  rich,  with  good  timber  adjoining 

Miller^  Ferry,  or  ford,  on  Sangamon  river,  is  thirty 

miles  west  of  north  from  Springfield,  on  one  of  the  roads 

to  Havanna  and  the  mouth  of  Spoon  river.     The  country 

on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  between  this  place  and 

19 


290  A    GAZETTEER 

New  Salem,  is  made  up  with  alternate  strips  of  prairie 
and  timber,  of  about  equal  proportions,  and  of  an  excel- 
lent quality.  It  contains  a  large  settlement 

Mills 's  Prairie,  in  Edwards  county,  eleven  miles  north 
east  from  Albion,  four  miles  long,  and  two  and  a  half 
wide — a  fine  and  well  settled  tract. 

Milton  was  once  a  town  site,  situated  on  Wood  river, 
in  Madison  county,  two  miles  south  east  of  Alton. 

MitchelVs  Settlement,  in  St.  Clair  county,  six  miles  east 
of  Belleville, — a  fine  tract  of  country. 

Monk  Hill  is  situated  on  the  American  bottom,  in  the 
borders  of  Madison  county,  eight  miles  north  easterly 
from  St.  Louis. 

The  circumference,  at  the  base,  is  about  six  hundred 
yards,  and  its  height  about  ninety  feet.  On  the  south 
side,  about  half  way  down,  is  a  broad  step,  or  apron, 
about  fifteen  feet  wide. 

This  hill,  or  mount,  was  the  residence,  for  several 
years,  of  the  monks  of  the  order  of  La  Trappe,  the  most 
rigid  and  austere  of  all  the  monkish  orders. 

Their  monastery  was  originally  situated  in  the  pro- 
vince of  Perche,  in  France,  in  one  of  the  most  lonely 
spots  that  could  be  chosen.  They  fled  from  the  com- 
motions of  that  kingdom  to  America,  lived  for  a  time  in 
Kentucky,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1806  or  '07,  and  set- 
tled on  this  mound. 

They  cultivated  a  garden,  repaired  watches,  and  tra- 
ded with  the  people,  but  were  generally  filthy  in  their 
habits,  and  extremely  severe  in  their  penances  and  dis- 
cipline. In  1813,  they  sold  off  their  personal  property? 
and  left  the  country,  for  France. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  '291 

MONMOUTH,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Warren  county,  is 
in  the  prairie,  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  timber  of 
Henderson  river.  It  is  located  on  section  twenty-nine, 
eleven  north,  two  west;  has  a  flourishing  settlement, 
and  a  first  rate  tract  of  country  around  it.  Having  beee 
recently  laid  out,  it  contains  but  few  families,  but  must 
soon  become  a  flourishing  village. 

Montebello  is  a  settlement  in  Hancock  county,  on  the 
bluffs  of  the  Mississippi,  one  and  a  half  miles  above  the 
foot  of  the  Lower  rapids. 

There  is  a  considerable  settlement  along  the  river, 
the  whole  length  of  the  rapids. 

Moore's  Prairie,  in  Jefferson  county,  is  eight  miles 
long,  from  two  to  three  miles  wide,  and  from  six  to 
twelve  miles  south  east  of  Mount  Vei*non. 

Some  portions  are  flat  and  wet,  other  parts  dry  and 
gently  undulating,  and  the  settlement  along  i'ts  borders 
consists  of  seventy-five  families. 

Moore's  Prairie,  in  St.  Clair  county,  is  five  miles  east 
of  Belleville,  and  about  the  same  in  extent.  It  is  tole- 
rably level,  of  good  soil,  and  spread  over  with  fine  farms. 

Moore's  Settlement,  in  Monroe  county,  near  Waterloo, 
is  an  extensive  settlement. 

Moss's  Settlement,  in  Pope  county,  near  the  heads  of  Big 
Bay  aad  Lusk's  creeks,  twenty  miles  from  Golconda. 
It  is  a  good  tract  of  country. 

Mounse's  Creek,  a  small  stream, 'and  branch  of  the 
North  fork  of  Sangamon,  in  Foster's  settlement,  Macon 
county. 

Mount  Carbon,  a  coal  bank  on  Muddy  river,  four  miles 
above  Brownsville,  in  Jackson  county.  Large  quanti- 


292  A    GAZETTEER 

ties  are  exported  from  this  place  down  the  river.  Here 
is  a  large  steam  saw  and  grist  mill,  and  it  will  soon  be- 
come a  place  of  much  importance,  as  one  of  the  princi- 
pal points  of  operation  for  the  "Illinois  Jlanvfactvrwg, 
Jlniing,  and  Exporting-  Company."  See  art.  MANUFAC- 
TURES, Part  First. 

MOUNT  CARMEL,  the  seat  of  justice  for  W abash  coun- 
ty, is  situated  on  highg  round,  on  theWabash  river,  and 
on  section  twenty,  in  fractional  township  one  south,  and 
in  range  twelve  west  from  the  second  principal  meri- 
dian. 

This  town  was  laid  off  in  1818,  by  Rev.  Thomas  S. 
Hinde,  of  Ohio,  on  the  project  of  establishing  a  moral, 
temperate,  and  industrious  village. 

The  prospective  improvement  of  the  rapids  of  the  Wa- 
bash  near  this  place,  is  thought  to  give  it  peculiar  im- 
portance as  a  place  of  business.  The  country  around 
is  high,  undulating,  healthy,  and  contains  an  extensive 
settlement  of  industrious  farmers.  The  court  house 
and  jail  are  brick.  The  Methodist  society,  which  is 
large,  has  a  house  of  worship. 

Mount  Carmel  has  one  lawyer,  two  physicians,  half  a 
a  dozen  stores,  mechanics  of  various  kinds,  a  steam 
saw  and  grist  mill,  two  mills  by  animal  power,  an  iron 
foundry,  and  about  7CO  inhabitants. 

Mount  Jolict,  a  motmd  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Des  Plaines,  about  sixteen  miles  above  its  junction  with 
the  Kankakee.  It  is  in  the  south  western  part  of  Cook 
county,  in  township  thirty-five  north,  in  range  ten  east 
from  the  third  principal  meridian.  It  is  in  the  midst  of 
a  large  plain,  covered  in  summer  with  short,  thin  grass. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  293' 

and  which  bears  striking  marks  of  having  been  once  in- 
undated. 

Its  size  is-variously  estimated.  Beck,  in  his  Gazet- 
teer, states,  "It  is  three  or  four  hundred  yards  in  length, 
north  and  south,  and  two  or  three  hundred  in  breadth, 
east  and  west.  It  is  in  the  form  of  a  pyramid,  and  is 
evidently  the  work  of  art." 

To  the  last  position  I  entirely  dissent.  From  all  facts 
I  have  gathered  from  those  who  have  visited  it,  I  have 
no  doubt,  but  like  similar  eminences  in  every  part  of 
the  globe,  it  is  a  natural  production.  Several  gentle- 
men, who  have  passed  this  mound  without  stopping  par- 
ticularly to  measure  it,  have  estimated  its  length  one 
mile,  its  breadth,  at  the  base,  half  a  mile,  and  its  height 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  It  appears  to  be  an  im- 
mense pile  of  sand,  similar  to  the  sand  ridges  along  the 
Illinois  river. 

The  name  was  given  by  the  companions  of  Joliet, 
who  visited  this  country  in  1673. 

Mount  Pleasant,  in  St.  Clair  county,  and  four  miles 
north  east  of  Belleville,  the  residence  of  William  Kin- 
ney,  a  former  lieutenant  governor  of  the  state. 

Mount  Pleasant,  a  post  office  in  Union  county,  east  of 
Jonesboro",  on  the  road  to  Vienna.  (See  Stokes's  Set- 
tlement.) 

Mount  Sterling,  a  post  office  and  town  site  in  Sixes's 
prairie,  Schuyler  county,  seventeen  miles  west  of  Rush- 
ville,  on  the  mail  road  to  Quincy. 

Mount  St.  Charles,  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  twelve  miles 
east  of  Galena.  The  surrounding  country  becomes  ele- 
vated to  the  height  of  seven  or  eight  hundred  feet  above 


294  A  GAZETTEER 

the  mining  country  generally-  This  mount,  like  a  py- 
ramid, rises  from  the  centre  of  this  elevation  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet.  The  base  of  the  whole  mount  in- 
cludes two  or  three  square  miles; — the  base  of  the  pyra- 
mid is  one  fourth  of  a  mile  in  length,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  in  breadth.  Its  top  is  long,  and  quite 
narrow.  The  whole  mound,  as  is  the  case  with  smaller 
ones,  is  a  natural  formation. 

MOUNT  VERNON,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Jefferson  coun- 
ty, situated  on  the  stage  road  from  St.  Louis,  by  Carlyle, 
to  Shawneetown,  on  section  twenty-nine,  township  two 
south,  in  range  three  east  of  the  third  principal  meri- 
dian, and  near  the  centre  of  the  county. 

It  contains  five  stores,  and  about  twenty  families, 
and  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Casey's 
prairie,  and  surrounded  with  a  considerable  settlement. 
It  is  in  latitude  thirty-eight  degrees  twenty  minutes 
north,  forty-seven  and  a  half  miles  a!  little  east  of  south 
from  Vandalia. 

Mouth  of  Ohio.  The  importance  of  a  good  town  site,  at 
the  junction  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  has,  for 
many  years,  excited  the  attention  of  the  enterprising.  It 
is  a  feature  in  our  western  rivers,  with  few  exceptions, 
that  at  and  near  their  junction,  the  land  is  alluvion,  of 
a  recent  formation,  and  at  the  high  annual  floods,  usual- 
ly inundated  to  the  depth  of  several  feet.  This  is  the 
case,  particularly,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  For  twelve 
miles  along  that  river,  above  its  mouth,  and  a  farther 
distance  along  the  Mississippi,  and  across  the  point  to 
Casii  river,  the  country  is  subject  to  annual  inunda- 
tions. H^d  the  author  of  nature  formed  here  an  eleva- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  295 

ted  situation,  nothing  could  have  prevented  this  spot 
from  becoming  the  central  commercial  emporium  of  the 
great  western  valley.  The  immense  trade  of  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi,  at  some  future  day,  will  warrant  the 
expense  of  forming  a  site  here  for  a  commercial  town. 

The  point  of  junction  is  owned  by  Thompson,  Bird, 
&  Co.  who  have  a  store,  ware  house,  and  tavern,  and 
who  are  raising  a  plat  of  ground  to  reach  above  all  high 
water.  They  intend  eventually  to  enclose  and  raise 
several  acres.  I  have  no  doubt  but  in  due  time,  art, 
enterprise,  and  perseverance  will  triumph  over  nature 
at  this  place,  and  a  large  commercial  town  will  exist 
where  now  the  waters  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  an- 
nually spread. 

Mud  Prairie  is  on  Mud  creek,  a  small  branch  of  Big 
Beaucoup  creek.  It  lies  in  Washington  and  Perry  coun- 
ties, fourteen  miles  north  east  from  Pinckneyville,  and 
is  level  and  rather  wet. 

Mud  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  the  southwestern  part  of 
Washington  and  south  east  part  of  &t.  Clair  counties.  It 
rises  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Perry  county,  takes  a 
north  western  direction,  and  enters  the  Kaskaskia 
riveropposite  an  island  in  township  two  south,  six  west. 
A  smaller  creek,  in  the  same  region,  is  called  Little  Mud 
creek. 

J\Iuddy,  a  small  stream  and  branch  of  the  Embarras,  in 
Lawrence  county,  ten  miles  west  from  Lawrenceville. 

Muddy,  a  branch  of  the  Little  Wabash  that  emties  into 
it  on  its  eastern  side,  in  Clay  county,  just  below  the  Vin- 
cennes  road.  Between  the  two  streams  for  some  dis- 
tance, is  a  swamp,  which  overflows  in  high  water. 


296  A    GAZETTEER 


Muddy  Creek.,  in  Lawrence  county,  rises  in  the  prairie, 
runs  north  of  east,  and  enters  the  Embarras  five  miles 
above  Lawrenceville.  Land  second  rate;  population 
forty  or  fifty  families. 

Muddy  Print)  in  the  south  western  part  of  Coles  county, 
and  one  of  the  heads  of  the  Little  Wabash.  The  timber  is 
excellent,  prairie  adjoining  is  rolling  and  rich,  and  the 
settlement  consists  of  eighty  or  one  hundred  families. 

Jllud  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  eight  miles  north  west 
from  Fairfield,  is  a  low,  wet  tract,  rightly  named. 

Mulberry  Grove,  a  small  grove  at  the  head  of  Apple 
creek,  near  the  boundary  line  of  Morgan  and  Sangamon 
counties. 

Jttuskeeto  Creek  rises  in  the  large  prairie  of  Macon 
county,  and  enters  the  North  fork  of  Sangamon,  in  San- 
gamon .county. 

Muscooten  Bay,  a  large  body  of  water  in  the  north 
west  part  of  Morgan  county,  that  unites  with  the  Illi- 
nois river  just  above  Beardstown.  In  high  water  it  be- 
comes connected  with  the  Sangamon  river. 

Naples,  a  commercial  town  in  Morgan  county,  situa- 
ted on  the  Illinois  river,  two  miles  above  the  mouth  of 
the  Mauvaiseterre,  on  section  twelve,  township  fifteen 
north,  in  range  fourteen  west  from  the  third  principal 
meridian. 

It  is  laid  off  on  a  level  prairie,  at  the  foot  of  a  sand 
ridge,  and  above  ordinary  high  water.  Very  occasional- 
ly, extreme  floods  will  come  over  a  portion  of  the  town 
site. 

Here  are  several  stores,  two  taverns,  a  medical  and 


OF    ILLINOIS.  297 

drug  shop,  two  physicians,  a  number  of  mechanics,  three 
steam  mills,  and  fifty  or  sixty  families. 

Adjoining  the  upper  end  of  the  town,  and  on  the  bor- 
ders of  the  sand  ridge,  are  the  landing,  store,  extensive 
steam  mill,  and  residence  of  Messrs.  A.  M.  &  F.  Collins, 
who  conduct  a  large  business  with  great  enterprise. 

Naples  is   twenty-four  miles  west  from  Jacksonville, 

Narrows,  a  place  so  called,  on  Peoria  lake,  five  miles 
above  Peoria.  The  bluffs  from  the  west  side  here  touch 
the  lake,  and  the  Galena  road  runs  at  the  foot. 

Narrows.  Two  places  in  Morgan  county  bear  this 
name.  One  is  now  Sweet's  Settlement,  five  miles  east  of 
Jacksonville.  The  other  is  on  the  road  from  Springfield 
to  Beardstown,  ten  miles  from  the  latter  place.  Here 
is  a  fine  settlement,  good  prairie,  with  points  and  groves 
of  timber.  The  settlement  receives  its  name  from  two 
points  of  timber  approaching. 

NASHVILLE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Washington  coun- 
ty, is  situated  on  a  beautiful  and  elevated  prairie,  near 
the  head  of  Little  Crooked  creek,  and  two  and  a  half 
miles  south  of  east  from  the  centre  of  the  county. 

It  is  situated  on  section  twenty-four,  township  two 
south,  range  three  west  of  the  third  principal  meridian. 
It  contains  two  stores,  several  mechanics,  and  fifteen 
or  twenty  families.  It  is  on  the  borders  of  an  arm  of  the 
Grand  prairie,  elevated,  rich,  and  undulating, 

Nettle  Creek)  a  trifling  stream  in  Morgan  county,  near 
Winchester.  The  settlement  contains  one  hundred  fa- 
milies. 

New  Design  is  in  Monroe  county,  four  miles  south  of 
Waterloo.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  American  settle- 


298  A    GAZETTEER 

ments  in  Illinois.     The  land  was  originally  a  mixture  of 
limber  and  prairie. 

JVf'w?  Haven,  a  post  town,  two  miles  above  the  mouth 
of  the  Little  Wabash,  on  the  line  between  Gallatin  and 
White  counties.  Here  is  a  large  saw  and  flouring  mill, 
with  several  stores,  and  about  fifteen  or  twenty  fa- 
milies. 

J\"ew  Lexington,  a  town  site  and  post  office,  eight  miles 
north  westerly  from  Jacksonville,  in  Morgan  county. 
It  has  two  stores,  two  groceries,  and  fifteen  or  twenty 
families. 

Newlin's  Settlement,  in  Crawford  county,  ten  miles 
north  west  from  Palestine,  on  the  borders  of  a  prairie, 
with  fifty  or  sixty  families. 

Newman's  Branch,  a  trifling  stream,  in  Morgan  county, 
that  runs  south  west,  and  enters  the  Mauvaiseterre 
north  of  Jacksonville. 

New  Salem,  a  post  office  and  town,  located  in  Sangamon 
county,  on  the  south  west  side  of  Sangamon  river,  on 
a  bluff,  and  surrounded  with  a  large  settlement.  It  has 
three  or  four  stores,  and  thirty  families.  A  grist  and 
saw  mill  is  here,  erected  on  Sangamon  river. 

It  is  on  section  twenty-five,  eighteen  north,  seven 
west. 

NEWTON,  the  anticipated  seat  of  justice  for  Jasper 
county,  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  Embarras, 
on  the  road  from  Palestine  to  Vandalia,  and  about  the 
centre  of  the  county. 

JVctc  Virginia,  a  settlement  and  tract  of  country  in 
Bond  ccT!-ty,  two  miles  east  of  Greenville,  and  on  the 


OF    ILLINOIS.  299 

the  head  waters  of  Beaver  creek.     Here  are  several  fine 
groves,  and  good  prairie. 

Nine  Mile  Creek,  in  Randolph  county.  It  rises  north 
east  of  Kaskaskia,  takes  a  western  direction,  and  en~ 
ters  the  Kaskaskia  river  ten  or  twelve  miles  above  the 
town. 

A  branch  of  it  is  called  Little  Nine  Mile  creek. 

Nine  Mile  Prairie,  in  Perry  county,  lies  ten  miles  east 
of  Pinckneyville. 

It  is  about  nine  miles  in  diameter,  tolerably  level,  and 
considerable  population  around  it. 

North  Arm,  a  prairie  and  a  settlement,  in  Edgar  coun- 
ty, six  miles  east  of  Paris.  The  prairie  is  good  land  , 
about  three  miles  wide.  Its  east  end  runs  to  the  state 
line,  and  its  west  end  unites  with  the  Grand  prairie. 
The  settlement  is  large  and  dense. 

North ji.eldt  a  post  office  in  Vermilion  county,  twelve 
miles  west  of  Danville,  on  the  Middle  fork  of  the  Big 
Vermilion., 

North  Fork  of  the  Embarras  rises  in  the  south  west 
part  of  Clark  county,  runs  south  near  the  line  between 
Crawford  and  Jasper,  and  enters  the  Embarras  at  the 
south  east  corner  of  the  latter  county.  The  country  is 
a  level,  timbered  tract,  in  some  places  rather  wet. 

North  Fork  of  the  Maconpea.  This  stream  is  the  same 
as  Hodges's  or  Otter  creek,  but  the  settlement,  which 
is  extensive  and  flourishing,  is  known  by  the  name  of 
North  fork. 

North  Fork  of  Salt  Creek.  It  rises  in  McLean  coun- 
ty, and,  with  Lake  fork,  forms  the  head  of  one  of  the 
principal  branches  of  the  Sangamon  river. 


300  A    GAZETTEER 

North  Grove,  in  Morgan  county,  is  at  the  head  of  Clca  r 
creek,  fifteen  miles  north  east  of  Jacksonville.  It  has 
fine  timber. 

North  Prairie.,  in  Morgan  county,  twelve  miles  north 
easterly  from  Jacksonville,  is  a  delightful  tract  of  rich, 
dry,  undulating  prairie.  A  large  settlement  surrounds 
it,  and  several  families  from  Virginia  have  recently  made 
locations  in  it. 

North  Prairie,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Mauvaiseterre, 
in  Morgan  county,  and  adjoining  Walnut  creek.  It  is 
level. 

Norris's  Settlement,  in  Greene  county,  twelve  miles 
north  easterly  from  Carrollton,  with  a  proportion  of  tim- 
ber and  prairie,  rather  level,  but  good  soil. 

Ogle's  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  St.  Clair  county,  that 
rises  in  the  west  end  of  Ogle's  prairie,  runs  a  north  east 
course,  and  enters  Silver  creek. 

Ogle's  Prairie,  a  beautiful,  undulating  prairie,  in  St.  < 
Clair  county,  five  miles  north   of  Belleville.  It  is  five 
miles  long,  and  from  one  to  two  miles  wide,  surrounded, 
aud  partly  covered,  with   a  flourishing  settlement  and 
fine  farms. 

The  public  road  from  Vincennes  to  St.  Louis,  and  the 
road  from  Belleville  to  Edwardsville,  intersect  in  the 
iiiiddle  of  this  prairie. 

O'Harra,  a  post  office  and  settlement  in  the  north  part 
of  Randolph  county,  about  twelve  miles  north  of  Kas- 
kaskia.  Here  is  a  small  settlement. 

Ohio  Settlement,  in  Fork  prairie,  Bond  county,  five 
miles  north  of  Greenville,  is  of  considerable  extent. 
The  land  is  second  rate. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  301 

Okau,  (An  Kas,  Fr.)  a  name  frequently  given  to  the 
Kaskaskia  river. 

It  appears  to  have  been  originally  a  contraction,  using 
the  first  syllable  for  the  whole  name,  and  prefixing  the 
article, — a  practice  common  among  the  early  settlers 
and  explorers  of  Illinois. 

Okau  Settlement,  in  the  south  eastern  part  of  Macon 
county,  twenty  miles  from  Decatur,  lies  on  the  West 
fork  of  the  Kaskaskia,  and  contains  twenty  or  thirty 
families. 

Olmsted's  Mound,  an  eminence  in  the  prairie  in  Mor- 
gan county,  eight  miles  south  of  west  from  Jacksonville. 
It  was  the  temporary  seat  of  justice  for  this  county 
previous  to  1825. 

Oldmaiis  Creek ,  a  small  stream  in  the  country  at- 
tached to  La  Salle  county,  that  enters  Rock  river  eigh- 
teen miles  above  Dixon's  ferry. 

Oliver's,  sometimes  called  Allen's  Prairie,  in  the  cor- 
ners of  Hancock,  Adams,  and  Schuyler  counties.     It  is 
twelve  miles  long,  and  from  two  to  fourmiles  broad. 
Old  Town  Timber.     [See  Daivson's  Groue.] 
O'NeaVs   Creek  is  a  branch   of  Crooked  creek,  in 
Schuyler  county,  ten  miles  from  Rushville. 

Orendorff"'s  Mill  and  settlement  is  on  Sugar  creek,  in 
the  south  part  of  Tazewell  county.  The  settlement  is 
large,  and  the  land  good. 

OTTAWA,  the  seat  of  justice  for  La  Salle  county,  was 
laid  off  by  the  canal  commissioners,  in  1830,  at  the  junc- 
tion of  Fox  river  with  the  Illinois,  and  is  thought  by 
many  to  be  an  important  location  for  business. 

It  is  laid  off  on  both  sides  of  the  Illinois  river,  on  the 


302  A    GAZETTEER 

ontire  section  numbered  eleven,  and  in  township  thirty- 
three  north,  in  range  three  east  of  the  third  principal 
meridian. 

At  the  town  site,  the  water  of  the  Illinois  is  deep,  and 
the  lauding  convenient.  Steam  boats  reach  this  place 
in  the  spring,  and  at  other  seasons  when  the  water  is 
high. 

Below,  for  the  distance  of  eight  or  nine  miles,  are  ra- 
pids and  shoals,  formed  by  barriers  of  sand  and  lime 
stone  rock.  The  peculiar  advantages  of  Ottawa  for  a 
€ommercial  town,  are  hypothecated  upon  the  supposi- 
tion that  the  contemplated  canal  or  railway  from  lake 
Michigan  will  terminate  at  this  place,  and  that  the  river 
below  will  be  made  navigable  at  all  stages  by  suitable 
•improvements. 

The  country  around  is  pleasant,  undulating,  and  well 
adapted  to  farming.  The  timber  is  in  small  quantities, 
chiefly  in  groves;  the  prairie  land  generally  dry,  and 
rich  soil. 

Lime,  and  coarse  freestone,  in  great  abundance. 

Ottawa  contains  twenty  or  thirty  families,  three  or 
four  stores,  and  is  populating  fast. 

Otter  Creek)  a  small  stream  that  rises  in  the  prairies 
in  the  south  western  part  of  Greene  county,  runs  a  west- 
erly course,  and  enters  the  Illinois  river  about  four- 
teen miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi. 

Towards  its  head  is  fine,  undulating  prairie;  but  lower 
down  the  surface  is  timbered  and  broken. 

Otter  Creek  rises  in  the  south  western  part  of  Fulton 
county,  runs  east,  then  south,  and  enters  the  Illinois  in 


OF    ILLINOIS.  303 

section  twenty-two,  three  north,  three  east.  Large 
bodies  of  timber  and  good  coal  are  on  this  stream. 

Out  House  Settlement,  on  sugar  creek,  in  Clinton  coun- 
ty, twenty-two  miles  south  west  from  Carlyle. 

Ox  Bow  Prairie  is  in  Putnam  county,  ten  miles  south 
of  Hennepin.  It  is  a  rich  prairie,  five  miles  long,  and 
from  one  to  two  miles  wide,  shaped  like  an  ox  bow,  and 
surrounded  with  excellent  timber.  The  prairie  is  over- 
spread with  fine  farms. 

Paddock's  Settlement  is  in  Madison  county,  on  the 
Springfield  road,  seven  miles  north  of  Edwardsville. 
The  prairie  is  undulating,  fertile,  and  healthy. 

Panky's  Settlement  is  in  the  south  east  corner  of  Pope 
county. 

Panther  Creek  heads  in  McLean  county,  runs  south 
east,  and  enters  the  Mackinau  near  the  county  line. 

Panther  Creek,  in  Sangamon  county,  a  trifling  stream 
and  branch  of  Sugar  creek,  in  fifteen  north,  five  west. 

Panther  Creek  is  in  the  north  eastrne  part  of  Morgan 
county,  and  enters  Sangamon  river. 

Panther  Grove,  a  point  of  timber  on  Panther  creek, 
in  Morgan  county. 

Another  grove,  called  Little  Panther,  lies  east  of  it. 

PALESTINE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Crawford  county, 
situated  three  miles  from  the  Wabash  river,  on  the 
borders  of  Lamotte  prairie,  and  in  sections  thirty- 
three  and  thirty-four,  township  seven  north,  in  range 
eleven  west  of  the  second  principal  meridian. 

It  is  twenty-five  miles  north  of  Vincennes,  in  latitude 
thirty-eight  degrees,  fifty-eight  minutes  north,  and 
eighty-two  miles  east  from  Vandalia. 


304  A    GAZETTEER 

Here  are  the  offices  of  the  register  and  receiver  for 
the  land  district  of  Palestine. 

Palestine  has  five  stores,  two  groceries,  a  steam  saw 
and  grist  mill  in  the  vicinity,  and  about  thirty  fa- 
milies. 

Palmers  Settlement,  above  the  South  fork  of  Spoon 
river,  in  the  county  of  Knox,  and  near  the  line  of  Ful- 
ton county. 

PARIS,  the  county  seat  of  Edgar  county,  on  section 
one,  thirteen  north,  twelve  west  of  the  second  principal 
meridian.  It  is  a  pleasant  village,  on  the  borders  of  a 
rich  prairie,  surrounded  with  good  farms,  vand  has  a 
court  house  of  brick,  four  stores,  two  groceries, ^three 
physicians,  one  lawyer,  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
inhabitants. 

Parker's  Prairie  is  a  large,  level  prairie,  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  Clark  county,  somewhat  wet,  soil  second 
rate.  A  considerable  settlement. 

Parker's  Settlement  is  (en  miles  south  west  from  Pa- 
lestine, in  Crawford  county.  A  mixture  of  timber  and 
prairie,  and  about  forty  families. 

Parr's  Settlement  is  in  Bond  county,  seven  miles  north 
of  Greenville,  adjoining,  and  within  the  timbered  tract, 
on  the  East  fork  of  Shoal  creek. 

Paupau  Grove  is  at  the  head  of  Indian  creek,  in  the 
county  north  of  and  attached  to  La  Salle  county.  It  is 
a  rich  tract  of  country. 

Peek-a-ton-o-kce,  a  large,  navigable  stream  that  enters 
Rock  river,  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  about  six  mile;- 
below  the  boundary  line.  It  rises  in  two  principal 
branhces,  near  the  Blue  mounds,  in  Wisconsin  territory 


OF    ILLINOIS.  305 

called  the  East  and  West  forks,  which  unite  before  they 
enter  the  state  of  Illinois. 

The  East  fork  rises  north  of  the  Blue  mounds,  near  the 
head  of  Grant  river.  The  West  fork  runs  near  the  Blue 
mounds. 

After  their  junction,  the  Peek-a-ton-o-kee  runs  first 
a  south  course  into  Illinois,  thence  a  south  east  course, 
and  finally  winds  round  north  of  east,  and  enters  Rock 
river.  It  is  one  hundred  yards  wide  at  the  mouth,  eighty 
yards  wide  at  the  boundary  line,  and  is  navigable  for 
flat  boats  to  Mineral  Point,  in  the  Wisconsin  terri- 
tory. 

I  have  had  no  little  trouble  in  determining  the  ortho- 
graphy of  this  name.  Its  aboriginal  meaning  is  said  to 
be  "Swift  water."  By  many  persons  it  is  written  and 
pronounced  Pik-e-tol-c-ka.  I  have  adopted  the  ortho- 
graphy and  pronunciation  of  gentlemen  from  its  vi- 
cinity. 

PEKIN,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Tazewell  county,  is  si- 
tuated on  the  east  side  of  the  Illinois  river,  twelve 
miles  below  Peoria,  en  fractional  section  thirty-three, 
twenty-five  north,  five  west  of  the  third  principal  meri- 
dian, on  a  sandy  bluff,  elevated  and  pleasant.  The  land- 
ing is  tolerably  good  at  a  moderate  stage  of  the  river, 
but  too  shoal  at  the  low  stage. 

Pekin  contains  forty  or  fifty  families,  six  stores,  and 
one  steam  saw  mill.  It  will  probably  be  the  landing  for 
a  large  portion  of  the  produce  of  the  upper  part  of  Taze- 
well,  and  the  whole  of  McLean  counties. 

Cincinnati  is  a  town  site  laid  off  adjoining  and  be- 
low Pekin. 

20 


306  A    GAZETTEER 

PEORIA,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Peoria  county,  situated 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Illinois  river,  on  section  nine, 
eight  north,  eight  east,  and  sometimes  called  Fort 
Clark. 

From  a  report  made  by  Edward  Coles,  esq.  formerly 
governor  of  Illinois,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  treasury, 
it  may  be  learned,  "The  old  village  of  Peoria  was  situa- 
ted one  mile  and  a  half  above  the  lower  extremity  or 
outlet  of  the  Peoria  lake.  This  village  had  been  inha- 
bited by  the  French  previous  to  the  recollection  of  the 
present  generation.  About  the  year  1778  or  1779,  the 
first  house  was  built  in  what  was  then  called  La  Ville  de 
Maillet,  afterwards  the  new  village  of  Peoria,  and  which 
has  recently  been  known  by  the  name  of  Fort  Clark,* 
situated  about  one  mile  and  a  half  below  the  old  village, 
immediately  at  the  lower  point,  or  outlet  of  the  lake. 
The  situation  being  preferred  on  account  of  the  water 
being  better,  and  its  being  thought  more  healthy,  the 
inhabitants  gradually  deserted  the  old  village,  and  by 
the  year  1796  or  1797,  had  entirely  abandoned  it,  and 
removed  to  the  new  one. 

"The  inhabitants  of  Peoria  consisted  generally  of  In- 
dian traders,  hunters,  and  voyagers,  and  had  long  form- 
ed a  link  of  conection  between  the  French  residing  on 
the  great  lakes  and  the  Mississippi  river.  From  that 
happy  felicity  of  adapting  themselves  to  their  situation 
and  associates,  for  which  the  French  are  so  remarkable, 
the  inhabitants  of  Peoria  lived  generally  in  harmony 
with  their  savage  neighbors.  It  appears,  however,  that 
about  the  year  1781,  they  were  induced  to  abandon  the 
village  from  an  apprehension  of  Indian  hostility;  but 


OF    ILLINOIS.  307 

soon  after  the  peace  of  1783,  they  again  returned,  and 
continued  to  reside  there  until  the  autumn  of  1812,  when 
they  were  forcibly  removed  from  it,  and  the  place  de- 
stroyed by  a  captain  Craig,  of  the  Illinois  militia,  on 
the  ground,  it  was  said,  that  his  company  of  militia  was 
fired  on  in  the  night,  while  at  anchor  in  their  boats  be 
J'ore  the  village,  by  Indians,  with  whom  the  inhabitants 
were  suspected  by  Craig  to  be  too  intimate  and  friend- 

Jy." 

The  inhabitants  being  thus  driven  from  the  place,  fled 
to  the  French  settlements  on  the  Mississippi  for  shel- 
ter. 

in  1813,  Peoria  was  occupied  by  the  United  States 
troops,  and  a  block  house  erected  and  called  Fort  Clark. 
The  timber  was  cut  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake,  and 
with  considerable  labor  transported  across,  and  hauled 
on  truck  wheels  by  the  men. 

After  the  termination  of  the  war,  Fort  Clark  was 
abandoned,  and  the  buildings  soon  after  burnt  by  the 
Indians. 

The  present  town  is  near  its  ruins. 

Without  intending  to  do  injustice  to  several  other 
beautiful  town  sites  along  the  upper  parts  of  the  Illinois 
river,  amongst  which  is  Pekin,  Hennepin,  the  foot  of 
the  rapids,  Ottawa,  etc.  I  shall  copy  from  Beck's  Ga- 
zetteer the  following  description  of  Peoria. 

"The  situation  of  this  place  is  beautiful  beyond  de- 
scription. From  the  mouth  of  the  Kickapoo,  or  Redbucl 
creek,  which  empties  into  the  Illinois  two  miles  below 
the  old  fort,  the  alluvion  is  a  prairie  which  stretches  it- 
self along  the  river  three  or  four  miles. 


308  A    GAZETTEER 

"The  shore  is  chiefly  made  up  of  rounded  pebbles,  and 
is  filled  with  springs  of  the  finest  water.  The  first  bank, 
which  is  from  six  to  twelve  feet  above  high  watermark, 
extends  west  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  river 
gradually  ascending.,  when  it  rises  five  or  six  feet  to  the 
second  bank.  This  extends  nearly  on  a  level  to  the 
bluffs,  which  are  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  feet  in 
height.  These  bluffs  consist  of  rounded  pebbles,  over- 
laying strata  of  lime  stone  and  sand  stone,  rounded  at 
the  top,  and  corresponding  in  their  course  with  the 
meanders  of  the  river  and  lake.  The  ascent,  although 
steep,  is  not  perpendicular.  On  the  bluffs,  the  surface 
again  becomes  level,  and  is  beautifully  interspersed 
with  prairie  and  woodland. 

"From  the  bluffs  the  prospect  is  uncommonly  fine. 
Looking  towards  the  east  you  first  behold  an  extensive 
prairie,  which,  in  spring  and  summer,  is  covered  with 
grass,  with  whose  green  the  brilliant  hues  of  a  thousand 
flowers  form  the  most  lively  contrast.-  Beyond  this,  the 
lake,  clear  and  calm,  may  be  seen  emptying  itself  into, 
or  by  its  contraction  forming  the  river,  whose  mean- 
ders, only  hid  from  the  view  by  the  beautiful  groves  of  - 
timber  which  here  and  there  arise,  can  be  traced  to  the 
utmost  extent  of  vision." 

Peoria  is  now  rapidly  advancing  in  population  and 
improvements.  In  the  summer  of  1833,  it  consisted  of 
about  twenty-five  families.  These  more  than  doubled 
in  a  few  weeks  from  emigration;  and  from  the  rapidity 
of  increase  in  the  present  season  (1834)  it  must  contain 
three  or  four  times  that  number.  It  has  a  printing  of- 
fice, from  which  the  "Illinois  Champion"  a  weekly  paper, 
is  issued. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  309 

Peoria  Lake)  an  expansion  of  the  Illinois  river,  com- 
mencing at  Peoria,  and  extending  about  twenty  miles 
in  a  north  easterly  direction.  It  is  much  wider  than 
the  river,  and  has  very  little  current.  The  water  is 
clear,  and  its  bottom  gravelly.  It  may  be  considered 
as  two  lakes,  divided  by  the  Narrows.  It  abounds  with 
various  kinds  of  fish,  such  as  sturgeon,  buffalo,  bass  of 
several  species,  perch,  white  fish,  pickerel,  etc.  which 
can  be  caught  with  the  sein  in  great  abundance. 

In  1329,  John  L.  Bogardus,  a  resident  of  Peoria,  es- 
tablished a  fishery  here  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  fish 
oil.  He  formed  several  large  hoppers,  into  which  the 
fish  were  thrown  when  taken  from  the  sein,  and  the 
oil  suffered  to  drain  off.  Could  he  have  separated  the 
gelatine  from  the  oil,  it  is  thought  he  might  have  suc- 
ceeded. It  turned  out  a  bad  business. 

The  Indian  name  for  this  lake  is  Pin-a-tah-wee.  Some 
authors  call  it  Illinois  lake. 

Perkins's  Settlement  is  in  the  north  east  part  of  Han- 
cock county,  on  the  head  waters  of  Crooked  creek.  The 
name  of  the  post  office  is  Fountain  Green. 

Petersburgh,a.town  site  on  Sangamon  river,  eighteen 
miles  north  west  from  Springfield,  and  two  miles  below 
New  Salem. 

Phelphs's  Prairie,  in  Franklin  county,  on  the  waters 
of  Crab  Orchard  creek,  twelve  miles  south  of  Frankfort , 
is  good  land,  and  somewhat  rolling. 

In  its  neighborhood  is  Poor  prairie,  a  wet,  level  tract; 
and  Wright's  prairie,  an  undulating  tract,  with  a  consi- 
derable settlement. 

Phigley's  Settlement  lies  between  the  head  waters  of 
Mc'Kee's  creek  and  Bear  creek,  in  Adams  county.  It 


310  A    GAZETTEER 

has  about  twenty-five  families.     The  land  is  rather  flat, 
but  good, — about  twenty  miles  east  from  Quincy. 

Phil's  Creek  enters  the  Macoupen  on  the  south  side, 
about  the  middle  of  township  nine  north,  eleven  west. 
It  heads  in  the  prairies  near  the  sources  of  the  Piasau. 
There  is  considerable  timber,  with  excellent  prairie  on 
the  borders  of  this  stream. 

Phillips's  Settlement,  in  the  north  western  part  of  Al- 
exander county,  on  Sexton's  creek,  twenty-five  miles 
from  America,  consists  of  eight  or  ten  families. 

Piankeshau  Bend,  on  the  Wabash  river,  in  Wabash 
county,  eighteen  miles  north  from  Mount  Carmel.  It  is 
a  fertile  tract,  timber  rather  scarce,  with  a  mixture  of 
prairie  and  barrens. 

Piasau,  a  small  stream  that  rises  in  a  beautiful  tract 
of  country  near  the  line  of  Greene  and  Macoupen  coun- 
ties, and  enters  the  Mississippi  about  ten  miles  above 
Lower  Alton. 

Pigeon  Creek  is  a  stream  that  rises  in  Adams  county, 
and  runs  westward  near  that  and  Pike  county,  which  it 
enters,  and  passes  into  the  Snicartee  slough  three  miles 
below  the  county  line. 

In  the  bottom,  the  land  is  level,  dry,  and  excellent — 
on  the  bluffs,  somewhat  broken. 

Pilot  Knob,  in  the  western  part  of  Washington  coun- 
ty, a  singular  eminence  and  point  of  observation  on  the 
old  Vincennes  and  Kaskaskia  trace. 

PINCKNETVILLE,  a  small  village,  and  the  seat  of  justice 
for  Perry  county.     It  is  situated  on  the  west  side  of  Big 
Beaucoup  creek,  at  the  head  of  the  Four  Mile  prairie 
and  on  section  twenty-four,  five  south,  three  west.     It 


OF    ILLINOIS.  311 

has  two  stores,  one  tavern,  one  grocery,  and  a  few  fami- 
lies, and  is  surrounded  with  a  large  settlement  of  indus- 
trious farmers. 

Piper's  Point,  a  settlement  in  Greene  county,  sixteen 
miles  north  east  from  Carrollton,  adjoining  String  prai- 
rie, and  the  timber  of  Apple  creek.  The  land  is  tolerably 
level,  rich,  and  proportionably'divided  into  timber  and 
prairie.  There  are  sixty  or  seventy  families  in  this  set- 
tlement. 

PITTSFIELD,  the  new  seat  of  justice  for  Pike  county, 
was  laid  off  in  April,  1833,  on  the  south  wes±  quarter  of 
section  twenty-four,  five  south,  four  west.  It  is  a  high 
and  healthy  situation,  in  an  undulating  prairie,  and  on 
the  dividing  ridge  nearly  equi  distant  from  the  Illinois 
and  Mississippi  rivers.  The  country  around  is  fertile, 
and  proportionably  distributed  into  timber  and  prairie, 
and  is  rapidly  settling. 

Pleasant  Grove,  three  miles  long  and  one  wide,  and  a 
settlement  of  twenty-five4or'thirty  families, in  Taze well 
county,  eight  miles  east  of  Pekin,  on  the  waters  of  Dil- 
lon's creek.  The  land  is  rich,  and  the  timber  consists 
of  walnut,  sugar  maple,  linden,  oak,  etc. 

Pleasant  Grove,  in  Morgan  county,  a  settlement  on  the 
borders  of  Sweet's  prairie,  between  Manchester  and 
Winchester.  The  land  in  this  quarter  is  good,  with  a 
due  mixture  of  timber  and  prairie. 

Plum  Creek,  in  Randolph  county,  enters  the  Kaskas- 
kia  river  from  the  east  side,  six,  miles  above  Kaskas- 
kia. 

Plum  Creek  rises  in  the  prairies  of  Morgan  county, 
west  of  Jacksonville,  runs  west,  and  enters  the  Illinois 
river  below  Phillip's  ferry. 


312  A  GAZETTEER 

Plum  Creek  Prairie  is  near  the  boundary  line  of  St. 
Clair  and  Randolph  counties,  ten  miles  long,  and  three 
broad;  good  soil,  and  scattering  settlements  along  its 
borders. 

Plum  River,  in  JoDaviess  county,  rises  near  Kellogg's 
grove,  runs  south  west,  and  enters  the  Mississippi  ten 
miles  below  Rush  creek.  It  is  a  good  mill  stream. 

Above  its  mouth  are  rapids.  The  country  alpng  its 
borders  is  a  mixture  of  timber  and  prairie.  It  is  divided 
into  South,,  North,  and  Middle  forks,  and  here  is  some  of 
the  finest  farming  land  in  the  country. 

Polecat  Creek,  a  stream  in  Coles  county,  that  rises  in 
the  prairies  towards  Edgar  county,  runs  southwest,  and 
enters  the  Embarras  east  of  Charleston.  Near  its  head 
is  a  very  fertile  region,  well  timbered:  further  down  the 
surface  is  broken.  The  settlement  has  thirty  fami- 
lies. 

Pond  Slough,  the  name  given  to  the  outlet  of  a  line  of 
ponds  in  Johnson  county,  between  Big  Bay  creek  and 
Cash  river.  It  is  a  deep,  muddy  channel.  [See  Cash 
river.] 

Pope's  River  rises  in  the  great  prairies  in  the  south 
part  of  Henry  county,  between  Henderson's  and  Ed- 
wards's  rivers,  runs  a  west  course  through  Mercer  coun- 
ty, and  enters  the  Mississippi,  a  few  miles  below  Ed- 
wards's  river.  In  Mercer  county  there  is  some  fine 
tracts  of  timber  on  this  stream — further  up  it  passes 
through  a  prairie  country.  The  land  generally  on 
Pope's  and  Edwards's  rivers  is  abundantly  rich,  but 
there  is  a  deficiency  of  timber. 

Potatoe  Creek  rises  on  the  west  side  of  Fulton  county. 


OF 'ILLINOIS.  313 

near  Table  grove,  runs  a  south  eastern  course,  and  en- 
ters Spoon  river  about  four  miles  west  of  Lewistown, 
Excellent  land,  both  prairie  and  timbered,  adjoins  it. 

Prairie  Creek,  in  Sangamon  county,  a  trifling  stream 
that  rises  in  the  prairie  between  Spring  and  Richland 
creeks,  makes  a  circuit  in  sixteen  north,  six  west,  and 
enters  the  latter  before  its  junction  with  Sangamou 
river. 

Prairie  de  Long  Creek  rises  north  of  Waterloo,  near 
the  dividing  line  of  St.  Clairand  Monroe  counties,  runs 
south  easterly  through  the  eastern  part  of  Monroe,  re- 
ceives Richland  creek,  and  enters  the  Kaskaskia  river 
in  the  south  western  part  of  township  three  south,  range 
seven  west.  Along  its  borders  is  a  considerable  settle- 
ment, and  the  soil  in  some  parts  is  good,  in  others  in- 
ferior. 

Prairie  du  Pont,  [pronounced  Prairie  du  Po,  Fr.]  a 
small  stream  in  St.  Clair  county.  It  rises  in  the  bluffs 
south  west  of  Belleville,  passes  through  the  American 
bottom,  and  enters  the  Mississippi  in  the  south  western 
part  of  the  county. 

An  old  French  village,  with  the  ap- 
pendage of  commons  and  common  fields  to  the  same, 
located  a  short  distance  south  of  Cahokia. 

Prairie  du  Rocfier,  an  ancient  French  village,  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  on  the  American  bottom,  near  the  Rocky 
bluffs,  from  which  it  derives  its  name,  fourteen  miles 
north  west  of  Kaskaskia.  It  is  a  low,  unhealthy  situa- 
tion, along  a  small  creek  of  the  same  name,  which  rises 
in  the  bluffs,  passes  across  the  American  bottom,  and 
enters  the  Mississippi.  The  houses  are  built  in  the 


314  A    GAZETTEER 

French  style,  the  streets  very  narrow,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants preserve  more  of  the  simplicity  of  character  and 
habits  peculiar  to  early  times,  than  any  village  in  Illi- 
nois. It  has  its  village  lots,  common  fields,  and  com- 
mons, the  peculiarities  of  which  are  noticed  under  the 
article  "Cahokia." 

Prairie  du  Rocher,  in  1766,  contained  fourteen  fami- 
lies; the  population  at  present  is  estimated  at  thirty-five 
families. 

Here  is  a  Catholic  church  dedicated  to  St.  Sulspice, 
but  at  present  has  no  resident  priest.  American  set- 
tlers have  not  yet  disturbed  the  repose  of  this  ancient 
community.  The  ruins  of  Fort  Chartres  are  three  miles 
north  west  from  this  village. 

Pratt* s  Prairie,  in  the  north  eastern  part  of  Greene 
county,  fifteen  miles  north  westerly  from  Carrollton. 

Prathcr's  Settlement,  on  Apple  creek,  in  the  north  east- 
ern part  of  Greene  county,  sixteen  miles  from  Carroll- 
ton.  • 

Prophet's  Village,  on  Rock  river,  in  Henry  county, 
and  on  the  road  from  Rushville  and  Warren  county  to 
Galena. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  river  is  a  handsome  town  site, 
-  on  a  high,  undulating  bottom.     The  opposite  side  of  the 
river  is  inundated  at  high  floods. 

Rock  river  can  be  forded  at  this  place  for  two  thirds 
of  the  year.  It  is  about  two  hundred  yards  wide. 

The  country  around  will  admit  of  considerable  set: 
tlements. 

Prospect  Hill,  in  St.  Clair  county,  one  mile  south  of 
Belleville,  and  the  residence  of  major  Washington 


OF    ILLINOIS.  315- 

West.  Spread  out  before  this  delightful  situation  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  prairies  in  the  state,  about 
five  miles  in  extent,  and  partially  covered  with  weli 
cultivated  farms. 

Prince's  Settlement  is  on  a  branch  of  Spoon  river,  twen  - 
ty  miles  north  west  from  Peoria,in  ten  and  eleven  north, 
ranges  six  and  seven  east.  Here  are  three  groves  of  tim- 
ber, from  which  at  least  one  hundred  farms  might  be  sup- 
plied. The  soil  is  a  rich  clay,  and  undulating.  The  pre- 
sent population  d"bes  not  exceed  fifteen  families. 

Princeton,  a  town  site  on  the  borders  of  Jersey  prairie, 
in  Morgan  county,  ten  miles  north  from  Jacksonville, 
in  township  seventeen  north,  in  range  ten  west.  The 
surface  is  undulating,  and  the  surrounding  country  one 
of  the  finest  tracts  of  land  in  the  state,  and  the  sente- 
ment  is  large.  The  post  office  is  called  Workman. 

Princeton,  a  town  site  in  Putnam  county,  in  Bureau 
settlement,  ten  miles  north  of  west  from  Hennepin.  It 
was  laid  off  by  colonists  from  Northampton,  Mass,  in 
1833,  contains  a  post  office  of  the  same  name,  and  is  in 
the  heart  of  a  flourishing  settlement  and  a  rich  body  of 
land. 

Puncheon  Camp,  a  creek  near  the  north  side  of  Mor- 
gan county,  that'enters  the  Sangamon.  It  is  divided 
into  two  branches.  A  grove  of  the  same  name  is  on  this 
stream. 

Putnam  Creek  rises  towards  Canton,  in  Fulton  coun- 
ty, and  taking  a  south  western  course,  enters  Spoon 
river. 

QUINCY,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Adams  county,  is  situa- 
ated  on  the  bluff  of  the  Mississippi  on  section  two,  two 


316  A    GAZETTEER 

south,  nine  west.  It  has  seven  stores,  four  groceries, 
one  carding  machine,  one  large  flouring  and  saw  mill  by 
steam  power,  with  four  run  of  buhr  stones,  two  schools, 
seven  lawyers,  four  physicians,  several  mechanics,  about 
one  hundred  families  and  six  hundred  inhabitants. 

The  land  office  for  the  sale  of  Congress  lands  north  and 
east  of  the  Illinois  river,  is  located  at  this  place.  The 
land  in  the  vicinity  is  excellent.  A  low  alluvion  lies  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  Mississippi  river,  which  is  over- 
flowed in  high  waters. 

Q,uincy  must  become  a  place  of  considerable  busi- 
ness. 

Quaker  Settlement,  near  the  Wabash,  in  the  north  east- 
ern part  of  Crawford  county,  on  Racoon  creek.  Here 
is  a  society  of  Friends  who  keep  up  regular  meetings. 

Racoon,  a  small  stream  in  Greene  county,  that  enters 
the  Illinois  river  twelve  miles  above  its  mouth.  The 
bottoms  on  this  creek,  and  on  the  Illinois  river  at  this 
point,  are  narrow,  and  the  surface  adjoining  is  much 
broken  into  bluffs  and  ravines. 

Racoon  Creek,  a  small  stream  that  runs  across  the 
north  end  of  Crawford  county,  and  enters  the  Wabash. 
Racoon  Creek,  in  the  north  eastern  part  of  Morgan 
county,  and  runs  into  Dickerson's  lake. 

Radcliff's  Point,  in  Washington  county,  five  miles 
west  of  Nashville,  and  a  small  settlement. 

Ramsey's  Creek  rises  near  the  line  of  Montgomery 
and  Shelby  counties,  runs  a  south  eastern  course,  and 
enters  the  Kaskaskia  ten  miles  north  of  Vandalia.  A 
considerable  settlement  lies  along  this  creek.  This  is 
sometimes  called  Booz  creek. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  317 

Ramsey's  Settlement,  in  the  south  western  part  of  Ma 
dison  county,  on  Sugar  creek,  twenty  miles  from  Ed- 
wardsville. 

Randleman 's  Settlement,  in  St.  Clair  county,  twelve 
miles  south  west  of  Belleville,  and  near  the  borders  of 
Monroe  county. 

Randolphs  Grove,  on  Kickapoo  creek,  above  Big  grove , 
about  twelve  miles  south  from  Bloomington,  in  McLean 
county.  In  shape,  it  is  almost  circular,  and  is  a  valua- 
ble tract  of  land,  containing  lime  stone,  and  a  popula- 
tion of  about  forty  families.  The  grove  comprises  about 
twelve  sections  of  timbered  land- 

Rapids  of  Illinois.  There  is  a  succession  of  rapids  ia 
the  Illinois,  both  above  and  below  the  mouth  of  Fox 
river,  with  intervals  of  deep  and  smooth  water.  From 
the  mouth  of  Fox  river  to  the  foot  of  the  rapids  is  nine 
miles — the  descent  in  all  eight  feet.  The  rock  soft 
sand  stone  mixed  with  gravel  and  shelly  lime  stone. 
Nine  miles  above  Fox  river  the  grand  rapids  commence, 
and  extend  ten  or  twelve  miles.  They  are  formed  by 
ledges  of  rock  in  the  river,  and  rocky  islands. 

The  whole  descent  from  the  surface  of  lake  Michigan, 
at  Chicago,  to  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  a  distance  of  nine- 
ty-four and  one  fourth  miles,  is  141  87-100  feet. 

Rapids  of  the  Mississippi.  These  are  distinguished  as 
the  Lower  and  Upper  rapids. 

The  Lower,  or  as  frequently  called,  the  Des  Moints, 
because  opposite  the  mouth  of  that  river,  are  twelve 
miles  long,  and  formed  by  beds  of  rock.  They  injure 
the  navigation  in  low  water,  and  sometimes  entirely 
prevent  the  passage  of  large  boats, 


A    GAZETTEER 

The  Upper  rapids  commence  at  Rock  Island,  and  ex- 
tend eighteen  miles  up  the  river. 

Rattan's  Prairie  is  in  Madison  county,  seven  miles 
north  west  from  Edwardsville.  It  is  level,  some  por- 
tions rather  wet,  and  surrounded  with  fine  farms. 

Rhoades's  Settlement,  in  Greene  county,  south  of  the 
Maconpen,  and  fifteen  miles  south  east  of  Carrollton. 
A  mixture  of  timber  and  prairie. 

Rector's  Fork,  in  Gallatin  county,  is  a  branch  of  the 
North  fork  of  Saline  creek,  which  it  enters  fifteen  miles 
above  Equality. 

Ray's  Settlement  is  on  the  east  side  of  Hancock  coun- 
ty, in  five  north,  five  west — a  fine  tract  on  the  waters  of 
Crooked  creek. 

Richlaitd  Creek,  a  small  stream  and  branch  of  Sanga- 
mon  river.  It  rises  in  the  prairies  near  the  borders  of 
Morgan  county, runs  a  northerly  course,  and  enters  San- 
gamon  river  below  Spring  creek.  The  land  on  its  bor- 
ders is  first  rate. 

Richland,  a  tributary  of  the  Kaskaskia,  in  Shelby 
county,  rises  on  the  east  side  of  the  county,  runs  south 
west,  and  enters  the  Kaskaskia  river  near  the  line  of 
Fayette.  A  large  settlement  in  the  south  eastern  part 
of  the  county. 

Richland)  a  small  creek  in  St.  Clair  county,  that  rises 
in  Ogle's  prairie,  runs  south  past  Belleville,  and  unites 
with  Prairie  du  Long  creek,  in  the  east  part  of  Monroe 
county.  The  land  upon  its  borders  is  proportioned  into 
timber  and  prairie,  and  of  excellent  quality. 

Richland,  a  post  office,  and  laid  off  town,  on  Richland 
creek,  in  Sangamon  county,  twelve  miles  from  Spring- 
field, on  the  road  to  Beardstown, 


OF    ILLINOIS. 

Richwoods.  Three  tracts  of  timbered  land  in  Greene 
county  are  known  by  this  name,  one  of  which  is  also 
called  Linden  bottom. 

The  timbered  tract  north  of  Apple  creek,  and  between 
Apple  creek  prairie  and  the  Illinois  bluffs,  bears  this 
name. 

A  tract  of  timber  lying  between  Carrollton  and  Bluff- 
dale,  several  miles  in  extent,  has  also  received  this 
name.  The  land  is  undulating,  rich,  well  timbered,  and 
is  occupied  by  a  large  settlement.  See  Linden  bottom. 
Ridge  Prairie  is  situated  in  Madison  county,  commen- 
cing near  Edwardsville,  and  extending  south  to  St. 
Glair  county. 

It  is  on  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  waters  that 
fall  into  the  Mississippi  west,  and  those  that  flow  to  the 
Kaskaskia  east.  Originally  this  prairie  extended  into 
St.  Clair  county  as  far  south  as  Belleville,  but  long  since, 
where  farms  have  not  been  made,  it  has  been  intersect- 
ed by  a  luxuriant  growth  of  timber.  Its  surface  is  gen- 
tly undulating,  the  soil  rich,  and  is  surrounded  and  in- 
dented with  many  fine  farms. 

Ridge  Prairie  Post  Office  (George  Churchell,  esq.  P.  M.) 
was  established  in  1833,  in  township  three  north,  in  range 
seven  west,  on  the  mail  route  from  Belleville  to  Ed- 
wardsville. seven  miles  south  easterly  from  the  latter 
place. 

Ridge  Settlement,  in  Clinton  county,  from  three  to  six 
miles  south  of  Carlyle,  is  a  large  settlement  and  in  a 
good  tract  of  land. 

Ridge  Settlement  lies  in  Union  county,  on  the  road  to 
Brownsville,  and  extends  into  Jackson  county.  It  is  a 


320  A    GAZETTEER 

high,  billy ,  timbered  tract  of  good  land,  well  watered,  and 
has  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  fami- 
lies. 

River  Precinct  is  the  settlement  which  extends  along 
the  Wabash  river  opposite  Vincennes,  in  Lawrence 
county.  It  is  a  rich  bottom,  heavily  timbered,  and  con- 
tains sixty  or  seventy  families. 

Robinson's  Creek  rises  in  the  north  western  part  of 
Shelby  county,  runs  a  south  course,  and  enters  the  Kas- 
kaskia  river  near  Shelbyville.  The  country  on  its  bor- 
ders is  proportioned  into  timber  and  prairie,  and  has  a 
large  settlement. 

Rochester,  a  town  site  in  Sangamon  county,  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  North  and  South  forks  of  the  Sangamon  river, 
ten  miles  east  of  Springfield,  on  the  principal  road  to 
Decatur.  It  has  a  steam  and  other  mills,  and  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  families. 

Rock  Creek  rises  in  Adams  county,  in  one  north,  seven 
west,  runs  west,  and  enters  the  south  prong  of  Bear 
cr^ek.  The  land  is  timber  and  prairie,  and  excellent. 

R6ck'€reek,  a  branch  of  the  Mackinau,  in  Tazewell 
county. 

Rock  Creek,  in  Sangamon  county,  rises  near  Clary's 
grove,  runs  north,  and  enters  the  Sangamon  river,  a  few 
miles  below  Richland  creek.  The  land  adjoining  is  ex- 
cellent. 

Rock  Island  is  in  the  Mississippi,  three  miles  above 
the  mouth  of  Rock  river.  It  is  three  miles  long,  and 
from  one  half  to  one  mile  wide,  with  lime  stone  rock  for 
its  base.  Fort  Armstrong  is  on  its  south  end.  On  two 
sides  the  rock  is  twenty  feet  perpendicular  above  the 


OF    ILLINOIS.  321 

river,  and  forms  the  foundation  wall  of  the  fort.  A  por- 
tion of  the  island  is  cultivated. 

Rode  River,  a  large,  navigable  stream  ia  the  northern 
part  of  the  state,  that  enters  the  Mississippi  three  miles 
below  Rock  Island.  Its  principal  head  is  in  a  region  of 
lakes  and  swamps,  towards  Fox  river  of  Green  Bay,  its 
course  south,  and  then  south  westerly.  Another  head  is 
Catfish,  a  stream  in  Wisconsin  territory,  that  connects 
together  the  "Four  lakes ,"  the  head  waters  of  which 
commence  in  a  swamp  a  few  miles  south  of  fort  Winne- 
bago.  The  country  towards  the  head  of  Rock  river  is 
made  up  alternately  of  swamps  and  quag  mires,  ridges 
of  sand  and  shrubby  oaks,  with  tracts  of  rich,  dry,  un- 
dulating land.  The  Terre  tremblant,  or  trembling  land, 
>is  in  this  region,  so  called  from  the  shaking  of  the  sur- 
face while  passing  over  it.  The  militia  of  Illinois  suf- 
fered much  in  passing  their  horsed  through  this  country 
in  1832,  while  pursuing  the  army  of  Black  Hawk. 

After  Rock  river  enters  the  state  of  Ilinois  it  re- 
ceives the  Peek-a-ton-o-kee,  and  several  smaller 
streams,  from  the  right;  and  from  the  left,  Turtle 
river,  Sycamore,  Winnebago  outlet,  and  several  small- 
er streams. 

Much  of  the  country  through  which  it  passes  in  Illi- 
nois is  prairie.  About  the  mouths  of  Turtle  river  and 
Sycamore  creek  are  large  bodies  of  timber.  It  gene- 
rally passes  along  a  channel  of  lime  and  sand  stone  rock, 
and  has  several  rapids  of  some  extent  that  injure  the  na- 
vigation at  low  water.  The  first  are  three  or  four  miles 
above  its  mouth.  The  second  are  twelve  or  fifteen  miles 
21 


322  A  GAZETTEER 

below  Dixon's  ferry.  The  next  are  below  the  Peek-a- 
ton-c-kee. 

The  country  generally  along  Rock  river  to  the  boun- 
dary line  is  beautifully  undulating,  the  soil.rich,  and  the 
timber  deficient.  This,  however,  will  not  prevent  it 
from  becoming  an  extensive  agricultural  region. 

Rock  Spring  is  situated  in  St.Claircouaty,  on  the  Vin- 
cennes  and  St.  Louis  stage  road,  eighteen  miles  en~t  of 
the  latter  place,  and  eight  and  a  half  mika  north  east  of 
Belleville.  It  is  an  elevated,  and  a  healthy,  and  pleasant 
situation,  in  a  tract  of  barrens,  selected  by  the  author 
of  this  work  as  a  permanent  residence  in  1820.  It  is  not  a 
town  or  village,  but  a  settlement  in  the  country,  having 
fourteen  families  within  one  mile.  Its  name  is^derived 
from  a  series  of  springs  that  issue  from  ledges  of  rock 
a  few  rods  from  the  public  road.  Here  is  a  post  office, 
where  the  mail  is  received  in  post  coaches  six  times 
a  week, — a  printing  office  that  publishes  a  semi  month- 
ly newspaper  called  '•'•The.  Pioneer  and  Western  Baptist" 
and  a  small  monthly  sheet  called  "The  Illinois  Sunday 
School  Banner." 

The  public  literary  and  theological  institution  for- 
merly located  here,  has  been  removed  to  Alton.  A 
common,  primary,  and  an  infant  school  of  about  thirty 
scholars  are  taught  here  by  a  lady  from  Boston. 

Rodgers's  Creek,  called  also  Turkey  fork,  a  branch  of 
Crooked  creek,  in  McDonough  county.  [See  Fiance'* 
ietti.ement.~\ 

Rodger***  Settlement,  in  Sangamon  county,  see  Athens, 

Rollins  Prairie,  in  Franklin  county,  north  of  Frank- 
fort, is  six  miles  long  and  four  miles  wide.  The  land 
is  level  and  good,  the  settlement  small, 


OF    ILLINOIS.  323 

Rome,  a  town  laid  off  on  section  five,  ten  north,  nino 
east,  on  the  west  side  of  Peoria  lake,  in  Peoria  county 
Here  the  lake  is  one  mile  wide. 

Round  Grove  is  a  small  tract  of  timber  described  by 
its  name,  in  Warren  county,  in  ten  north,  three  west. 

Round  Prairie,  in  the  north  eastern  part  of  Schuyler 
county,  on  Williams's  creek,  twenty  miles  from  Rush- 
ville-  It  is  a  rich,  dry,  undulating-  prairie,  four  miles 
in  diameter,  and  surrounded  with  timber. 

Round  Prairie,  in  Wabash  county,  twelve  miles  north 
cast  from  Mount  Carmel,  four  miles  in  diameter,  very 
fertile,  and  has  eighteen  or  twenty  fine  farms  on  it. 

Round  Prairie,   in   Bond  county,  six   miles    west    of 
north  from  Greenville,  is  from  one  to  two  igiles  in  dia- 
meter.    It  is  undulating  and  rich,  surrounded  with  a 
large  body  of  good  timber,  and  has  a  consi'derable  set- 
tlement. 

Round  Prairie,  in  Perry  county,  on  the  east  side  of 
Beaucoup,  eight  or  nine  miles  from  Pinckneyville.  It 
is  one  mile  wide,  and  from  one  to  two  miles  long,  and 
has  a  good  settlement. 

Rush  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  that 
rises  between  Plum  and  Apple  rivers,  runs  a  south  west- 
ern course,  and  enters  the  Mississippi  six  or  eight  miles 
below  Apple  river.  The  first  six  miles  from  the  mouth 
is  low,  wet,  bottom  land;  above  are  alternate  bottoms 
and  precipitous  bluffs.  At  the  head  is  a  fine  farming- 
country,  with  considerable  timber. 

RUSHVILLE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Schuyler  county,  is 
situated  in  the  central  part  of  the  county,  at  the  south 
end  of  a  beautiful  prairie,  on  section,  thirty,  two  north, 


324  A    GAZETTEER 

one  west,  ten  miles  from  the  Illinois  river  at  the  near- 
est point,  and  twelve  from  Beardstown.  It  has  six  stores, 
two  groceries,  two  taverns,  four  cabinet  makers,  four 
brick  masons  and  plaisterers,  three  carpenters,  two 
blacksmiths,  four  tanneries,  one  steam  saw  and  grist 
mill,  one  carding  machine,  four  lawyers,  two  physicians, 
and  seven  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants. 

The  court  house  is  of  brick,  two  stories,  and  the  peo- 
ple have  erected  a  brick  school  house.  Good  building 
stone  and  plenty  of  coal  are  found  in  the  vicinity. 

The  settlements  around  Rushville  are  large,  and  the 
village  itself  exhibits  a  quietness  and  neatness  in  its 
external  appearance  that  is  pleasing  to  the  traveler. 

Russell's  Grove,  in  McDonough  county,  north  of  west 
from  Macomb,  is  a  fine  tract  of  timbered  land  surround- 
ed with  rich  prairie,  and  a  considerable  settlement. 

Sadorus,  a  small  grove  and  settlement  at  the  head  tim- 
ber of  the  Kaskaskia,  on  the  road  from  Springfield  to 
Danville. 

SALEM,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Marion  county,  is  situa- 
ted on  the  eastern  border  of  the  grand  prairie,  on  the 
Vincennes  and  St.  Louis  stage  road,  on  section  eleven, 
two  north,  range  two  east  of  the  third  principal  meri- 
dian. It  is  a  pleasant  village  of  about  thirty  families. 

Saline,  a  navigable  stream  in  Gallatin  county  that  en- 
ters the  Ohio  river  twelve  miles  below  Shawneetown,  on 
section  five,  eleven  s outh,  ten  east.  It  is  made  by  three 
principal  branches  distinguished  as  the  JVbr/A,  South, 
ian&  Middle  forks ,  which  unite  near  Equality. 

The  North  fork  rises  near  McLeansboro'  in  Hamilton 
county,  and  runs  a  southerly  conrse. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  325 

The  South  fork  rises  on  the  borders  of  Johnson  and 
Franklin  counties,  takes  an  easterly  course,  and  unites 
with  the  North  fork. 

The  Middle  fork  rises  on  the  east  side  of  Franklin 
county,  takes  a  south  easterly  course,  and  unites  with 
the  South  fork  a  few  miles  above  Equality. 

The  Saline  creek  is  navigable  for  steam  boats  to 
Equality,  fourteen  miles. 

Salisbury,  a  post  office  and  village  just  commenced  in 
the  border  of  the  timber  of  Richland  creek,  ten  miles 
north  west  from  Springfield,  in  Sanga-non  county. 

Salt  Creek,  in  Effingham  county,  five  miles  east  of  Ew- 
ington,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  Fourteen  Mile  prai- 
rie. It  is  large  enough  for  a  mill  stream,  and  enters  the 
Little  Wabash  river  ten  or  twelve  miles  below  Ewing- 
ton. 

The  settlement  contains  fifteen  or  twenty  families; 
the  land  is  tolerably  good,  and  the  surface  rolling. 

Salt  Creek  Settlement,  on  the  north  side  of  Macon  coun- 
ty, twenty  miles  from  Dccatur,  of  about  one  hundred 
families.  Th£  land  is  good,  with  plenty  of  prairie. 

Salt  Prairie,  in  Calhoun  county,  lying  between  the 
bluffs  and  Salt  Prairie  slough. 

It  is  a  dry,  rich  prairie,  six  miles  long,  and  half  a  mile 
wide,  densely  settled  with  about  sixty  families.  Fine 
springs  break  out  from  the  foot  of  the  bluffs,  and  a  large 
saline  rises  at  the  head  of  the  prairie,  which  furnishes 
abundant  salt  water  for  stock. 

Salt  Prairie  Slough,  a  small  arm  of  the  Mississippi,  in 
Calhoun  county,  six  miles  long,  near  the  foot  of  which 
is  Gilead.  It  is  navigable  for  small  boats,  and  affords  an 


326  A  GAZETTEER 

excellent  harbor.     Thirteen  flat  boats  left  this  slough 
in  one  sea%on,  loaded  with  corn. 

Sangamon  River,  a  prominent  branch  of  the  Illinois. 
It  rises  in  Champaign  county,  in  the  most  elevated  re- 
gion of  that  portion  of  the  state,  and  near  the  head  wa- 
ters of  the  two  Vermilions  and  the  Kaskaskia  rivers.  It 
waters  Sangamon  and  Macon  counties,  and  parts  of 
Tazewell,  McLean,  Montgomery,  Shelby,  and  Cham- 
paign counties.  Its  general  course  is  north  westerly. 
Besides  a  number  of  smaller  streams,  noticed  in  their 
alphabetical  order,  as  Clary's,  Rock,  Richland,  Prairie, 
Spring,  lack,  Sugar,  Horse,  and  Brush  creeks,  on  the 
south  side,  and  Crane,  CantrilPs,  Fancy,  Wolf  creeks, 
and  other  streams  on  the  north  side,  its  three  principal 
heads  are  Salt  creek,  North  fork,  and  South  fork. 

Salt  creek  rises  in  McLean  county,  twenty-two  north, 
ranges  four  and  five  cast,  and  runs  a  westerly  course 
through  the  north  west  corner  of  Macon  into  Sangamon 
county,  where,  after  receiving  Kickapoo  and  Sugar 
creeks,  and  several  smaller  ones,  it  enters  the  Sanga- 
mon river  in  the  northwest  part  of  township  nineteen 
north,  range  six  west.  Its  two  principal  heads  are  call- 
ed the  North  fork  of  Salt  creek,  and  Lake  fork  of  Salt 
creek. 

North  fork,  which  may  be  regarded  as  the  main  stream, 
rises  in  Champaign  county,  near  the  heads  of  the  Ver- 
milion river  of  the  Illinois,  the  Vermilion  of  the  Wa- 
bash,  and  the  Kaskaskia,  in  twenty-four  north,  seven 
east,  in  a  small  lake.  It  runs  south  westerly  through 
Macon,  then  south,  then  west  into  Sangamon  coupty, 
where  it  receives  South  fork  and  Salt  creek. 


OP    ILLINOIS.  327 

-  The  South  fork  of  Sangamon  rises  by  several  ^branches, 
in  the  north  western  part  of  Shelby,  and  the  north  east- 
ern part  of  Montgomery  counties,  runs  a  south  eastern 
course,  and  forms  a  junction  with  the  North  fork  in  six- 
teen north,  four  west,  seven  miles  east  from  Springfield, 

Sangamon  river  and  its  branches  flow  through  one  of 
the  richest  and  most  delightful  portions  of  the  Great 
West.  Complaints  are  made  of  the  extent  of  the  prai- 
ries, but  this  offers  no  serious  inconvenience  for  the 
present.  These  prairies  for  many  years  will  afford  range 
for  thousands  of  cattle.  The  general  aspect  of  the  coun- 
try on  the  Sangamon  is  level,  yet  it  is  sufficiently  un- 
dulating to  permit  the  water  to  es-cape  to  the  creeks. 
It  will  soon  constitute  one  of  the  richest  agricultural 
districts  in  the  United  States,  the  soil  being  of  such  a 
nature  that  immense  crops  can  be  raised  with  little  ag- 
ricultural labor. 

The  Sangamon  is  navigable  for  steam  boats  of  the 
smaller  class  to  the  junction  of  the  North  and  South 
forks,  and,  with  a  little  labor  in  clearing  out  the  drift 
wood,  each  principal  fork  may  be  navigated  with  flat 
boats  for  a  long  distance.  In  the  spring  of  1832  a  steam 
boat  of  the  larger  class  arrived  within  five  miles  of 
Springfield,  and  discharged  its  cargo.  At  a  small  ex- 
pense in  clearing  out  the  logs,  and  cuttingThe  stooping 
trees,  this  river  would  be  navigable  for  steam  boats  half 
the  year.  From  abend  near  the  mouth  of  Clary's  creek, 
fifty  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Sangamon,  the  waters 
find  a  channel  through  the  low  grounds  and  sloughs  to  the 
vicinity  of  Beardstown,so  that  keel  boatscan  pass  in  this 
direction  into  the  Sanga^non.  It  is  thought  that  with 


328  A    GAZETTEER 

small  expense,  a  communication  might  be  opened  in  this 
direction.  Some  incipient  measures  were  adopted  by  the 
legislature  for  improving  the  navigation  of  this  noble 
river,  but  nothing  effectual  has  been  done. 

When  the  resources  of  the  state  become  more  ample 
there  is  no  doubt  but  this  important  outlet  for  its  agri- 
cultural wealth  will  receive  a  share  of  attention. 

Sand  Creek  is  a  small  stream  in  Shelby  county,  ten 
miles  north  east  of  Shelbyville,  and  enters  the  Kaskas- 
kia  river. 

Sand  Creek  Settlement,  in  Shelby  county,  eight  miles 
north  east  of  Shelbyville.  The  land  is  good,  and  the 
settlement  large. 

Sandy,  a  small  mill  stream  that  risss  on  the  west  side 
of  La  Salle  county,  runs  south  west,  and  enters  the 
Illinois  in  Putnam  county. 

Sandy,  a  small  stream  in'  Morgan  county.  It  rises 
near  the  South  fork  of  the  Mauvaiseterre,  runs  a  south 
westerly  course  pa.-t  Winchester,  and  enters  the  Illi- 
nois river  above  Apple  Creek. 

Saudi/,  an  insignificant  stream,  and  branch  of  Cash 
river,  in  Alexander  county.  The  land  near  it  is  rolling 
surface  and  rather  thin  soil. 

Sand  Prairie,  a  prairie  of  some  extent,  and  a  settle- 
ment of  eighty  or  a  hundred  families,  in  Tazewell  coun- 
ty, four  miles  south  of  Pekin.  A  rich,  sandy  soil. 

Sau-ga-nas-kee  Swamp,  a  tract  of  inundated  land  in 
Cook  county,  about  twenty  miles  south  west  of  Chicago. 
After  perforating  through  a  few  feet  of  mud,  the  base  is 
found  to  be  hard,  blue  lime  stone.  In  constructing  a 
canal  from  the  lake  to  the  Illinois,  it  has  been  suggest- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  329 

ed  to  construct  a  large  reservoir  to  be  filled  with  the 
waters  of  the  Calamic  and  Des  Plaines. 

Sank  Village,  in  Rock  Island  county,  is  three  miles 
above  Rock  river,  and  four  miles  east  of  Rock  Island- 
This  was  formerly  the  chief  village  of  the  Sank  nation. 
Here  were  Indian  fields  fenced  with  poles,  bark  cabins, 
plats  of  blue  grass  pasture,  and  a  large  body  of  rich  prai- 
rie land. 

The  white  settlement  here  is  large,  with  line  farms. 

Scatters  of  Cash.  This  name  is  given  by  the  people  of 
Johnson  county  to  a  succession  of  ponds  in  which  Cash 
river  "scatters"  itself.  They  are  in  township  thirteen 
south,  two  east. 

Seminary  Township,  a  Settlement  in  the  south  west 
corner  of  Fayette  county,  being  five  north  and  one  west 
of  the  third  -principal  meridian.  It  is  a  township  of  land, 
thirty-six  miles  square,  granted  by  congress  to  Illinois 
for  purposes  of  education.  It  has  since  been  relinquish- 
ed to  the  general  government,  and  in  place  thereof,  an 
equal  quantity  is  to  be  selected  from  unsold  lands  with- 
in the  state.  The  Kaskaskia  river  crosses  its  south 
eastern  part,  and  the  Hurricane  fork  runs  through  it 
near  its  western  boundary. 

It  is  proportioned  into  timber  and  prairie,  contains 
much  good  land,  and  about  thirty-five  families. 

Senaichwinc,  a  stream  in  Peoria  county,  rises  in  thir- 
teen north,  eight  east,  and  runs  a  devious  course,  near- 
ly parallel  with  the  Illinois,  which  it  enters  in  section 
eighteen,  eleven  north,  nine  east,  twenty  miles  above 
Peoria. 

There  is  much  good  land,  both  timbered  and  prairie, 


330  A    GAZETTEER 

on  this  creek,  and  a  settlement  of  twenty  or  thirty  fami- 
lies. 

It  derives  its  name  from  a  well  known  Indian  chief 
who  formerly  resided  at  its  mouth. 

Seven  Mile  Creek, in  Jo  Daviess  county,  rises  near  the 
Buffalo  grove,  runs  an  east  course,  and -enters  Rock 
river  six  miles  above  Dixon's  ferry.  The  country  for 
twenty  or  thirty  miles  above  Dixon's  ferry  L  generajly 
prairie,  interspersed  with  small  groves  of  three  or  four 
hundred  acres  each,  gently  undulating,  soil  dry  and  very 
rich.  From  thence  on  the  road  to  Galena  the  surface  is 
hilly  and  broken. 

Seven  Mile  Prairie,  in  White  county,  seven  miles  west 
of  Carmi,  contains  a  large  and  flourishing  settlement. 

Sexton's  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Alexander  county, 
running  westward,  and  emptying  into  the  Mississippi  a 
short  distance  below  Cape  Girardeau. 

The  bottom  land  is  rich,  but  the  upland  near  it  is 
rolling  and  rather  thin  soil.  This  by  mistake  is  called 
Seaton's  cre,ek,  on  some  maps. 

Shannon's  Stone,  a  post  office  and  settlement,  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  eighteen  miles  north  east  of  Kaskaskia, 
on  the  road  to  Vandalia.  Here  is  a  town  site  called 
Columbus. 

Shawncetown  is  the  principal  commercial  town  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  state.  It  is  situated  on  the  Ohio 
river,  about  ten  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash, 
in  section  six  of  township  ten  south,  in  range  ten  east 
of  the  third  principal  meridian,  in  latitude  thirty-seven 
degrees  forty  minutes  north. 

The  bank  of  the  Ohio  at  this  place  has  a  gradual  as- 


OF    ILLINOIS.  331 

cent,  but  is  subject  to  inundation  at  the  extreme  floods. 
Between  the  town  and  the  bluffs  the  surface  is  still  low- 
er, and  more  frequently  submerged.  Though  no  consi- 
derable sickness  lias  prevailed  in  this  town  for  some 
years  'past,  it  cannot  but  be  regarded  as  less  healthy 
than  the  more  elevated  portions  of  the  state. 

Considerable  commercial  business  is  transacted  at 
this  place,  both  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  line.  It  has 
eight  or  ten  stores,  several  groceries,  two  public  houses, 
and  six  or  seven  hundred  inhabitants. 

The  land  office  for  the  district  is  in  Shawneetown. 
A  printing  office  is  here  which  publishes  a  weekly  paper 
called  the  "Illinois  Journal."  There  is  also  a  bank  here 
which  was  chartered  by  the  territorial  legislature,  and 
which  has  lately  recommenced  doing  business,  after  a 
suspension  of  several  years.  This  is  the  only  bank  ia 
the  state. 

SIIELBYVILLE,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Shelby  county., 
is  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  on 
elevated  and  timbered  land,  on  section  seven,  eleven 
north,  four  east.  It  has  six  stores — three  groceries — a 
brick  court  house,  forty  feet  square,  two  stories,  with 
a  cupola — and  forty-five  or  fifty  families.  The  country 
around  it  is  excellent  land,  a  mixture  of  timber  and  prai- 
rie, and  the  settlements  are  extensive.  There  is  a  large 
sulphur  spring  in  the  town. 

Shiloh,  a  settlement  in  St.  Clair  county,  six  miles 
north  east  from  Belleville.  Here  is  a  Methodist  meet- 
ing house  and  camp  ground,  and  a  large  congregation. 

Shipley's  Prairie,  a  small  prairie  in  Wayne  county, 
five  miles  sou-th  east  of  Fairfield,  and  has  fifteen  or  twen- 
ty families. 


332  A  GAZETTEER 

Shoal  Creek,  a  fine  stream  that  rises  in  Montgomery 
county,  runs  south  westerly  through  Bond  and  Clinton, 
and  enters  the  Kaska&kia  river  in  section  six,  one  south, 
four  west.  It  is  formed  by  the  union  of  the  East,  West, 
and  Middle  forks,  and  might  be  made  navigable  for  small 
craft  to  a  considarable- distance.  Its  branches  are  Bea- 
ver, East,  and  West  forks.  The  timber  on  its  banks  is 
of  Various  kinds,  and  from  two  to  six  miles  in  width, 
with  prairies  between  each  fork.  The  soil  is  second 
rate,  and  the  surface  in  some  places  is  rolling,  in  others 
level. 

Shoal  Creek  Bridge  and  post  office,  in  Clinton  county, 
on  the  Vincennes  and  St.  Louis  rood,  nine  rniles  west 
ofCarlylc. 

Shoal  Creek  Prairie, &n  extensive  prairie  lying  to  the 
west  of  Shoal  creek,  in  Clinton,  Bond,  and  Montgome- 
ry counties.  Its  average  width  is  eight  i.iiles.  It  is 
slightly  rolling,  and  contains  much  good  land. 

Shoal  Creek  Scltl-cment,  in  Clinton  county, twelve  miles 
south  west  from  Carlyle. 

Shock's  Settlement,  in  the  American  bottom,  in  Monroe 
county.  The  land  around  is  a  rich  prairie. 

Shuey's  Settlement  is  in    the  eastern  part  of  Adams 
county,  near  the  heads   of  Bear  and  McKee's  creeks, 
and  the  land  is  less  rolling  than  other  portions  of  the 
Bame  county. 

Silvan  Grove,  a  settlement  and  post  office  in  Morgan 
county,  twelve  rniles  north  east  of  Jacksonville.  It  is  at 
the  head  of  Job's  creek,  and  both  the  timber  and  prai- 
rie is  excellent  land. 

Silver  Creek  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  Madison 


OF    ILLINOIS.  333 

v 

county,  runs  south  into  St.  Clair,  and  enters  the  Kas- 
kaskiajn  section  twenty-eight,  two  south,  seven  west, 
It  is  about  fifty  miles  in  length,  has  several  branches,  and 
passes  through  a  fertile  and  well  populated  country,  di- 
versified with  timber  and  prairie.  Its  name  was  given 
from  the  supposed  existence  of  Silver  mines,  not  far 
from  Rock  Spring,  where  the  early  French  explorers 
made  considerable  excavations. 

Sinsinaway,  a  stream  in  the  north  west  corner  of  the 
state.     It  rises  in  the  prairies  of  Wisconsin  territory, 
runs  a  south  west  course,  and  enters  the  Mississippi  six 
miles  above  Fever  river,  and  nearly  west  from  Galena* 
Timber  scattering,  some  cedar  and  a  few  pines. 
Sitgreave's  Settlement)  in  Clinton  county,  twelve  miles 
south  of  Carlyle. 

Six's  Prairie  lies  in  the  southern  part  of  Schuyler  coun- 
ty, seventeen  miles  west  of  south  from  Rushville,  and 
seventeen  miles  north  west  from  Naple.  It  is  a  rich, 
undulating,  dry  tract,  ten  miles  long,  and  three  miles 
broad,  and  surrounded  with  excellent  timber.  The  set- 
tlement commenced  in  1S29,  and  now  contains  seventy- 
five  or  eighty  families.  The  post  office  is  called  Mount 
Sterling-. 

Six  Mile  is  the  name  of  a  creek,  and  a  settlement,  in 
Pike  county.  The  creek  heads  in  the  interior  and  en- 
ters Snicartee  near  the  county  line  of  Calhoun.  The 
settlement  on  it  is  large. 

Six  Mile  Prairie,  in  the  American  bottom,  south  wes- 
tern part  of  Madison  county, — a  rich  tract  of  alluvion, 
with  fine  farms,  and  surrounded  with  a  heavy  body  of 
timber — rather  unhealthy. 


334  A    GAZETTEER 


\  post  office  of  this  name  near  it  on  the 

road  from  Lower  Alton  to  St.  Louis. 

Six  Mile  Prairie,  in  Perry  county,  nine  miles  south 
west  of  Pinckneyville,  is  nine  miles  long  and  six  miles 
wide.  It  is  level,  tolerably  good  soil,  and  settled  along 
its  eastern  border. 

Skillet  Fork,  a  large  branch  of  the  Little  Wabash.  It 
rises  in  the  prairies  east  of  Vandalia,  and  running  a 
southern  course,  enters  that  river  in  the  northern  part 
of  White  county.  Its  banks  are  subject  to  inundation. 
The  land  adjoining  it  is  fertile.,  but  too  level  for  conven- 
ience. 

Skillet  Fork  Settlement,  in  the  north  east  corner  of  Ha- 
milton county. 

Skillet  Fork,  a  settlement  in  White  county,  six  miles 
north  east  of  Carmi,  in  a  timbered  region,  between  the 
Skillet  fork  and  Little  Wabash. 

S/a6  Point,  a  point  of  timber  and  a  small  stream  in 
the  border  of  Montgomery  county,  a  few  miles  west  of 
south  from  Macoupen  point,  on  the  road  from  Springfield 
to  Edwardsville. 

Small  Pox  River,  in  Jo  Davicss  county,  rises  south 
east  of  Galena,  runs  west,  and  enters  the  Mississippi  at 
the  mouth  of  Fever  river,  in  an  acute  angle  with  that 
stream.  It  is  fifteen  miles  long,  the  county  on  its  bor- 
ders very  broken,  has  some  fertile  and  level  bottom  land, 
and  considerable  timber  towards  its  mouth. 

Smallslurgh,  a  town  site  with  mills  etc.  on  the  Em. 
barras,  six  miles  below  Lawreuceville. 

Small's  Settlement,  in  St,  Clair  county,  six  miles  south 


OF    ILLINOIS.  335 

west  from  Belleville.     The  land    chiefly  timbered  and 
barrens. 

Smith's  Lake,  in  the  Illinois  bottom,  Morgan  county. 
It  is  below  Meredosha,  and  unites  with  the  river. 

Smith's  Settlement  is  near  Shoal  creek  timber,  in  Bond 
county,  four  miles  south  of  Greenville. 

Smooth,  Prairie  is  in  Madison  county,  in  the  forks  of 
Wood  river,  eight  miles  east  from  Alton.  It  is  three 
miles  long  and  about  two  wide,  level  and  r  ther  wet. 

Snake  Creek,  a  branch  of  Indian  creek,  in  Morgan 
county. 

Snicartee,  (in  French,  Chenail-ecarte,  said  to  mean  the 
"cutoff,"  or  "lost  channel,")  an  arm  of  the  Mississippi., 
in  Pike  county,  commonly  called  a  "Slough,"  in  the  di- 
alect of  the  country.  It  is  a  running  water  at  all  stages 
of  the  river,  and  for  several  months  furnishes  steam  boat 
navigation  to  Atlas.  It  leaves  the  Mississippi  in  section 
nineteen,  three  south,  eight  west,  in  Adams  county,  en- 
ters it  again  in  Calhoun  county,  section  seven,  eight 
south,  four  west,  and  runs  from  one  to  five  miles  from  the 
main  river.  It  is  about  fifty  miles  in  length.  The  lands 
in  the  island  are  of  first  rate  alluvion,  proportioned  into 
timber  and  prairie,  but  subject  to  annual  inundations. 

Snider's  Settlement  is  on  the  south  side  of  Macon  county, 

South  America  is  a  settlement  in  Callatin  county,  fif- 
teen miles  south  west  from  Equility,  and  near  the 
corner  of  Pope  and  Franklin  counties. 

South  Fork  of  Spoon  River  rises  in  Warren  county, 
near  the  head  of  Ellison  creek,  runs  a  south  easterly- 
course,  and  unites  with  the  main  stream  in  section 
township  eight  north,  range  two  east. 


336  A    GAZETTEER 

Some  of  the  best  land  in  the  slate  lies  on  this  stream. 
This  is  frequently  called  Westforjc. 

South  Prairie,  in  Morgan  county,  is  on  the  south  sido 
of  Walnut  creek. 

Spanish  Needle,  a  trifling  stream  in  Macoupen  county 
that  enters  Macoupen  creek,  above  Dry  fork. 

Spoon  River,  a  large  and  beautiful  river  on  the  milita- 
ry tract.  A  description  of  its  principal  heads  may  be 
seen  by  reference  to  the  articles,  ilForks  of  Spoon  ri- 
ver," and  "South  fork  of  Spoon  river."  After  the  union 
of  these  forks,  the  general  course  of  this  river  is  south 
till  within  a  few  miles  of  its  mouth,  when  it  takes  a  south 
easterly  course  and  enters  the  Illinois  in  section  thirty- 
three,  four  north,  four  east,  directly  opposite  Havanna. 

This  stream  is  navigated  for  several  miles,  and  at  a 
trifling  expense,  in  clearing  out  the  trees  and  rafts  of 
timber,  it  might  be  made  navigable  for  one  half  the  year 
to  the  forks. 

Large  bodies  of  timber  of  the  best  quality  line  the 
banks  of  this  stream,  and  the  soil  in  general  is  inferior 
to  none. 

The  mainriverand  several  of  its  tributaries  furnishes 
excellent  mill  seats.  The  prairies  adjacent  are  gener- 
ally undulating,  dry  and  fertile. 

Above  the  mouth  of  Spoon  river  is  a  large  lake  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Illinois. 

Spring  Bay,  a  singular  basin,  about  seventy-five  rods 
in  diameter,  adjoining  the  Illinois  river,  in  the  upper 
part  of  Tazewell  county.  In  front  it  opens  to  the  river, 
the  waters  of  which  enter  and  fill  it  at  flood  stage. 
When  low,  they  retire  and  leave  the  basin  dry,  except 


OF    ILLINOIS.  337 

ing  a  stream  made  by  number  of  springs  which  burst 
forth  from  the.  sand  ridge  on  three  sides  of  it.  On  this 
ridge  are  signs  of  an  old  settlement  or  fortification.  A 
short  distance  below  is  the  mouth  of  Blue  creek,  over 
which  is  a  bridge  of  earth.  Below  this  ,is  a  mound, 
forty-five  yards  in  circumference  at  .the  base,  and  twen- 
ty feet  in  height.  It  is  said  to  have  been  opened,  and  hu- 
man skeletons  found  twenty  feet  from  the  top. 

Spring  Creek  enters  Sangamon  river  four  miles  from 
^3pringfield.  The  country  bordering  is  rather  level,  very 
rich,  and  densely  populated.  The  timber  is  from  two  to 
five  miles  wide,  and  of  excellent  quality. 

Spring1  Creek)  in   Putnam  county,  enters  the  Illinois 
four  miles  below  the  Little  Vermilion. 

SPRINGFIELD,  one  of  the  largest  towns  in. Illinois,  and 
^the  seat  of  justice  of  Sangamon  county.  It  is  situated 
on  the  border  of  a  beautiful  prairie,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  timber  of  Spring  creek,  on  sections  twenty-seven 
aad  thirty-four,  in  township  sixteen  north,  in  range  five 
west  of  the  third  .principal  meridian.  This  town  was 
laid  off  in  February,  1822,  before  the  lands  in  this  re- 
gion were  sold.  At  the  land  sales  of  November,  1828, 
the  tract  on  which  the  older  portion  of  the  town  is  lo- 
cated, was  purchased  and  duly  recorded  as  a  town.  It 
then  contained  about  thirty  families,  living  in  small  log- 
cabins.  The  surface  is  rather  too  level  for  a  large  town  , 
into  which  it  is  destined  to  grow;  but  it  is  a  dry  and 
healthy  location. 

Springfield   has  thirteen  stores,   five  groceries,  two 
druggist's  shops,  two  taverns  or  hotels,  three  bakeries, 
three  hatlers,  two  silversmiths,  one  tin  and  copper  ma- 
22 


338  A    GAZETTEER 

nufactory,two  wagon  and  carriage  makers,  three  carding 
machines,  one  flouring  rail!  with  ox  power,  three  black- 
smiths, with  a  proportion  of  mechanics  of  various  kinds , 
a  printing  office  from  which  is  issued  a  weekly  paper, 
called  the  "Sangamo  Journal,"1'  ten  attorneys,  seven  phy- 
sicians, three  or  four  ministers  of  the  gospel,  about  220 
families,  and  1,400  inhabitants.  The  annual  increase  is 
at  the  ratio  of  about  eighteen  or  twenty  per  cent. 

The  public  buildings  are,  a  court  house,  jail,  Presby- 
terian and  "Reformed"  churches,  of  brick;  a  framed  Me- 
thodist house  of  worship,  and  a  market  house,  where  mar- 
kets are  held  daily,  Sundays  excepted. 

The  first  house  built  in  Springfield  was  erected  twelve 
years  since.  The  town  has  increased  more  than  half 
within  the  last  four  years.  It  has  excellent  schools  for 
both  sexes.  The  female  literaryinstitution  is  extensive- 
ly patronized,  aqd  promises  great  usefulness. 

Situated  not  far  from  the  geographical  centre  of  the 
state,  and  surrounded  with  one  of  the  richest  tracts  of 
country  in  the  great  western  valley,  it  is  thought  by 
many,  that,  should  the  seat  of  government  be  removed 
from  Vandalia,  it  will  find  a  location  at  this  place. 

Spring  Island  Grove,  in  Sangamon  county,  from  four- 
teen to  twenty  miles  west  of  Springfield,  on  the  road  to 
Jacksonville.     It  lies  at  the  head  of  Spring  creek,  and 
is  an  excellent    timbered  tract,  sur/ounded  with  rich 
prairie,  from  six  to  ten   miles  long,  and  from  two  to 
three  miles  wide,  and  has  a  flourishing  settlement.  Many 
excellent  springs  are  found  in  this  tract  of  country. 
Spring  Point,  in  Jasper  county,  on  the  national  road. 
Starved  Rock,  near  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  and  on  the 
right  bank  of  *he  Illinois,  is  a  perpendicular  mass  of  lime 


OF    ILLINOIS.  330 

and  sand  stone  washed  by  the  current  at  its  base,  and 
elevated  150  feet.  The  diameter  of  its  surface  is  about 
100  feet,  with  a  slope  extending,  to  the  adjoining1  bluff 
from  which  alone  it  is  accessible. 

Tradition  says  that  after  the  Illinois  Indians  had 
killed  Poritiac,  the  French  governor  at  Detroit,  the 
northern  Indians  made  war  upon  them.  A  band  of  the 
Illinois,  in  attempting  to  escape,  took  shelter  on  this 
rock,  which  they  soon  made  inaccessible  to  their  ene- 
mies, and  where  they  were  closely  besieged.  They  had  se- 
cured provisions,  but  their  only  resource  for  water  was 
by  letting  down  vessels  with  bark  ropes  to  the  river. 
The  wily  besiegers  contrived  to  come  in  canoes  under 
the' rock  and  cut  off  their  buckets,  by  which  means  the 
unfortunate  Illinois  were  starved  to  death.  Many  years 
after,  their  bones  were  whitening  on  this  summit. 

Steam  Point,  a  point  of  timber  running  into  the  prai- 
rie that  adjoins  Brulette's  creek,  in  Edgar  county. 

Steel's  Mill,  a  post  office  and  settlement  in  Randolph 
county,  sixteen  mile's  east  of  Kaskaskia,  on  the  Shaw- 
neetown  road.  The  soil  is  of  a  middling  quality. 

Steven's  Creek  rises  in  Macon  county,  and  enters  the 
North  fork  of  Sangamon  three  miles  bejow  Decatur. 

StillmarCs  Run,  formerly  called  Mud  creek,  a  small 
stream  that,  runs  north  west  and  enters  Rock  river  a 
few  miles  below  Sycamore  creek,  where,  on  the  14th  of 
May,  1832,  a  battalion  of  militia,  consisting'  of  about 
275  men,  under  the  command  of  major  Isaiah  Stillman, 
of  Fulton  county,  were  attacked,  defeated,  and  eleven 
men  killed,  by  a  portion  of  the  Indian  army  under  the 
celebrated  Black  Hawk. 


340  A  GAZETTEER 

Stinking'  Creek.,  see  Beaver  creek. 

St.  Mary's  River  rises  in  Perry  county,  and  enters  the 
Mississippi  six  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Kaskaskia. 

Stokes's  Settlement,  in  the  eastern  part  of  Union  coun- 
ty, near  the  head,  and  on  the  south  side  of  Cash  river, 
contains  one  hundred  families.  The  surface  of  the  land 
is  rolling,  and  the  soil  good. 

Stone's  Settlement  is  fifteen  miles  below  Quincy,  in 
three  south,  seven  west. 

Stout's  Grove,  a  settlement  in  McLean  county,  on  the 
Mackinau,  in  twenty-four  and  twenty-five  north,  one 
west,  and  twelve  miles  north  west  of  Bloomington.  The 
north  part  is  a  large  and  heavily  timbered  bottom,  prin- 
cipally oak,  with  some  barrens.  The  south  part  is  first 
rate  timbered  land. 

Slrawn's  Settlement,  in  Putnam  county,  about  twenty 
miles  below  Hennepin,  was  commenced  in  1831. 

String  Prairie,  in  Greene  county,  lies  between  Ma- 
cpupen  and  Apple  creeks,  commencing  four  miles  west 
of  Carrollton.  and  extending  .fifteen  miles  east,  and 
from  half  a  mile  to  three  miles  in  width.  It  is  a  rich, 
level  tract,  and  much  of  it  in  a  state  of  cultivation. 

Siring-  Town,  on  the  Embarras,  in  Lawrence  county, 
sixteen  miles  north  of  Lawrenceville,  has  100  families. 

Stvbblefield's  Branch  is  a  trifling  stream  that  rises  in 
the  northern  part  of  Bond  county,  runs  south  west,  and 
enters  the  East  fork  of  Shoal  creek,  two  miles  above 
Greenville.  A  considerable  settlement  is  near  it. 

;a  Kiangamon  county,  rises  in  the  prai-. 
ries  towards  the  south  western  part  of  the  county,  where 
its  waters  interlock  with  the  heads  of  Macoupen  and 


OF    ILLINOIS.  341 

Apple  creeks,  runs  a  north  easterly  course,  and  enters 
the  Sangamon  river  a  short  distance  below  the  forks. 
Its  main  branch  is  Lick  creek.  The  land  is  good,  sur- 
face rather  level,  and  the  timber- of  various  kinds,  from 
one  to  two  miles  in  width.  The  settlements  are  large, 
and  extend  from  the  mouth  to  the  head  of  the  timber. 

Sugar  Creek,  in  the  north  eastern  part  of  Schuylor 
county.  It  rises  in  the  south  east  corner  of  McDonough 
county,  takes  a  south  eastern  course,  near  the  bounda- 
ry line  of  Fulton,  and  enters  the  Illinois  above  Beards- 
town,  on  section  four,  two  north,  one  east.  A  large 
body  of"  excellent  timber  lies  on  this  stream.  Red  and 
yellow  ochre  are  found  in  its  banks. 

Sugar  Creek,  a  small  stream  that  rises  in  the  interior 
of  Edgar  county,  takes  an  eastern  course  and  passes 
through  a  corner  of  Indiana  into  the  Wabash. 

Sugar  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Clark  county,  that 
passes  near  Palestine  and  enters  the  Wabash. 

Sugar  Creek ,  in  Iroquois  county,  a  branch  of  the  Iro- 
quois  river.  There  is  considerable  timber  along  its 
borders. 

Sugar  Creek,  a  small  stream  rising  in  township  four 
north,  in  range  five  west  of  the  third  principal  meridian' 
a»d  running  a  southerly  course  through  the  eastern  bor- 
ders of  Madison  into  Clinton  county,  enters  the  Kaskas- 
kia  near  the  base  line,  in  five  west.  It  passes  through 
a  fine  country  of  laud. 

Sugar  Creek,  in  McLean  county, rises  in  twenty-four 
north,  two  east,  and  runs  through  Blooming  grove  in  a 
southwestern  direction.  It  is  a  good  mill  stream,  has  firm 
banks,  and  gravelly  bottom.  It  rasses  across  the  south 


342  A    GAZETTEER 

east  part  of  Tazewell  into  Sangamon  county,  and  enters 
Salt  creek  in  township  twenty  north,  range  five  west.  It 
waters  a  rich  body  of  land,  and  has  an  extensive  line 
of  settlements. 

Sugar  Creek  Settlement,  in  the  south  eastern  part  of 
Tazewell  county,  oa  Sugar  creek.  It  has  seventy  or 
eighty  families,  and  i,s  increasing. 

Sugar  Grove,  in  the  north  part  of  Sangamon  county, 
twenty  miles  north  of  Springfield.  It  is  a  fine  tract  of 
timber  surrounded  with  fertile  prairie,  about  three  miles 
long  and  one  mile*vide,  with  a  respectable  settlement. 

Sugar  River,  in  Jo  Daviess  county.  It  rises  in  the 
Wisconsin  territory,  runs  south  across  the  boundary 
line  about  eleven  miles  west  of  Rock  river,  and  enters 
the  Peek-a-ton-o-kee.  The  country  between  it  and 
Rock  river  is  rather  swampy,  with  ridges  of  bur  oak 
•timber.  Along  its  course  the  land  and  timber  are  good. 

Sutherland,  a  post  office  in  Edgar  county.  (See  Grand 
View.) 

Sweet's  Prairie  is  in  the  south  part  of  Morgan  county, 
three  miles  west  of  Manchester.  It  is  level  and  wet. 

Swell's  Prairie  is  in  Madison  county  four  miles  north 
east  from  Edwardsville. 

Swigarfs  Settlement,  in  St.  Clair  county,  is  under  the 
bluffs  seven  miles  east  of  St.  Louis. 

Swinningtorft  Point,  a  settlement  in  Morgan  county. 

Swanwick's  Creek  rises  near  the  Grand  Cote,  and  enters 
Beaucoup  creek  in  Perry  county. 

Sycamore  Creek  rises  in  the  prairies  near  Fox  river, 
and  enters  Rock  river  thirty-five  miles  above  Dixon's 
ferry.  It  is  fifty  yards  wide  at  its  mouth.  The  Indian 
name  is  Kish-wau-Jcee. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  343 

Table  Grove  is  a  beautiful  and  elevated  tract  of  150 
or  200  acres  of  timber,  on  the  west  side  of  Fulton  coun- 
ty, and  has  a  delightful  prospect. 

Tarapiu  Ridge,  a  settlement  four  miles  north  of  Le- 
banon, in  St.  Glair  county. 

Taylor's  Creek  rises  in  Macoupen  county,  and  enters 
Macoupen  creek  in  Greene  county. 

Tegarden's  Mill,  on  Taylor's  creek,  in  Greene  county. 

TcnMile  Creek  rises  in  the  Great  prairie  near  Putnam 
county,  runs  through  a  broken  but  well  timbered  coun- 
try, and  enters  Peorialake  five  miles  above  Peoria. 

Ten  Mile  Creek,  in  Hamilton  county,  is  a  branch  of 
Muddy  river,  and  runs  through  an  undulating  tract.  Here 
is  a  settlement  of  forty  or  fifty  families. 

Three  Mile  Prairie,  in  Washington  county,  has  an  un- 
dulating surface.  It  is  eight  miles  south  of  Nashville. 

Timbered  Settlement  includes  the  north  east  quarter  of 
Wabash  county,  and  is  ten  miles  from  Mount  Carmel. 
It  contains  sixty  or  seventy  families..  The  timber  is 
excellent. 

Tom^s  Prairie, in  Wayne  county,  issixYniles  north  east 
of  Fairfield,  on'Elm  river,  and  has  twenty  or  twenty-five 
families.  The  soil  is  second  rate. 

Tolten's  Prairie,  in  Fulton  county,  seven  miles  north 
west  of  Lewistown  is  from  one  to  three  miles  wide  and 
ten  long.  It  is  good  land  and  has  a  large  settlement. 

Town  Fork  is  a  branch  of  Troublesome  creek,  in  Mc- 
Donough  county. 

Trinity  is  on  the  Ohio  six  miles  above  its  junction  with 
the  Mississippi,  and  at  the  mouth  of  Cash  river,  on  sec- 
tions one  and  two;  seventeen  south,  one  west.  Steam 


A    GAZETTEER 

boats  from  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  exchange 
cargoes  here,  repair,  etc.  It  has  one  tavern  and  one 
btore,  and  is  inundated  six  feet  at  extreme  high  water. 

Troublesome  Creek,  a.  branch  of  Crooked  creek,  in  Mc- 
Donough  county. 

Turkey  Creel:  enters  the  Illinois  river,  in  Morgan 
county,  between  Walnut  and  Sandy  creeks. 

Turkey  Hill,  in  St.  Clair  county,  four  miles  south  east 
of  Belleville,  the  oldest  American  settlement  in  the 
county  was  commenced  by  William  Scott,  Samuel  Shook  , 
and  Franklin  Jarvis,  in  1798.  It  is  now  populous.  For- 
merly this  name  was  used  to  designate  a  large  tract. 

Turney^s  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  eight  miles  south 
cf  Fairfieid,  is  from  one  to  two  miles  in  extent.  The 
soil  is  good,  and  the  settlement  contains  about  twenty- 
five  families. 

Turtle  River  rises  in  Wisconsin  territory,  and  enters 
Rock  river  forty  rods  below  the  boundary  line. 

Twelve  Jlile  Grove  is  between  the  Kankakee  and  Hick- 
ory creek,  in  Cook  county,  and  contains  600  acres. 

Twelve  Jtfilc  Prairie,  in  Effingham  county,  west  of  the 
Little  W abash,  is  level,  and  in  many  places  wet.  It  ex- 
tends through  Effingham  and  Clay  counties.  The  na- 
tional road  crosses  it  in  the  former,  and  the  Vincennes 
in  the  latter  county. 

Twelve  Mile  Prairie,  in  St.  Clair  county,  is  moderate- 
ly undulating,  and  good  soil.  Indian  narn-e  Tan-mar-waxs . 

TwiichelVsJtizll,^.  post  office  on  Big  creek;  Pope  county. 

Tyrcr's  Creek,  a  branch  of  the  Mississippi  in  Adams 
county,  rises  in  two  south  eight  west. 

Union  Prairie,  in  the  south  east  part  of  Clark  coun 


OF    ILLINOIS.  345 

ty,  is  five  miles  long  and  three  broad.    The  settlement  is 
large. 

Union  Prairie,  in  Schuyler  county,  four  miles  west  of 
Rushville. 

Union,  a  post  office  in  Champaign  county,  twenty  miles 
west  of  Danville.  ' 

Union  Grove,  in  St. Glair  county,  is  on  the  borders  of 
Looking  Glass  prairie  and  on  the  east  side  of  Silver  creek. 
The  land  is1  excellent,  and  the  settlement  extensive.  It 
is  sometimes  called  Padfield's  Settlement. 

UNITY,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Alexander  county,  re- 
cently located, "in  the  corners  of  townships  fifteen  and 
sixteen  south,  in  ranges  one  and  two  west  of  the  third 
principal  meridian.  It  is  near  Cash  river. 

Upper  Maclrinaii  Settlements,  a  string  of  settlements 
towards  the  head  of  the  Mackinau,  in  McLean  county', 
about  fourteen  miles  north  of  Bloomington.  The  timber 
is  divided  into  several  groves,  and  is  about  twenty-four 
miles  in  length  from  east  to  west,  and  from  one  to  three 
miles  in  width.  The  old  Kickapoo  and  Pattawatomie 
towns  were  on  the  north  side  of  this  timber,  where  the 
blue  grass  grows  in  wild  luxuriance.  Here  are  over  100 
families,  andihe  land  is  excellent. 

UKBANNA,  the  scat  of  justipe  for  Champaign  county, 
as  named  by  the  last  legislature. 

Valentine's  Settlement  is  in  Bond  county,  on  the  west 
side  of  Shoal  creek.  The  land  is  good. 

Vandeventer* s  Settlement  is  on  the  Illinois  river,  in  the 
south  part  of  Schuyler  county,  twenty  miles  from  Rush- 
ville. 

VanciVs  Settlement,  in  Union  county,  on  a  branch  of 
Clear  creek.  The  land  is  rolling.  . 


346  A    GAZETTEER 

Vance 's  Settlement,  in  McDonough  county,  is  in  five 
north,  two  and  three  \v  est,  six  or  eight  miles  south  west 
from  Macomb,  and  on  the  waters  of  Crooked  creek.  The 
land  is  excellent. 

VANDALIA  is  the  present  seatof  government  for  the 
state,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Fayette  county,  and  was 
laid  out  in  1818,  by  commissioners  appointed  for  that 
purpose,  under  the  authority  of  the  state.  It  is  situated 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  on  sections 
eight,  nine,  sixteen  and  seventeen,  of  township  six  north, 
iu  range  one  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian.  The 
site  is  high,  undulating,  and  was  originally  a  timbered 
tract.  The  streets  cross  at  right  angles  and  are  eighty 
feet  in  width.  The  public  square  is  on  elevated  ground. 
The  public  buildings  are,  a  state  house  of  brick  and  suf- 
ficiently commodious  for  legislative  purposes — a  two  sto- 
ry brick  edifice,  originally  erected  for  a  banking  house, 
but  now  occupied  with  the  offices  of  the  secretary  of  state, 
treasurer,  auditor,  and  supreme  court, — a  neat  framed 
house  of  worship  for  the  Presbyterian  society,  with  a 
cupalo  and  bell, — a  framed  meeting  house  for  the  Meth- 
odist society, — another  small  public  building  open  for 
all  denominations,  and  for  schools,  and  other  public  pur- 
poses. 

There  are  in  the  town  two  printing  offices  that  issue 
weekly  papers  called  the  "Whig"  and  the  "Advocate," 
three  taverns,  several  stores,  five  lawyers,  four  physi- 
cians, a  land  office,  and  about  800  inhabitants. 

Near  the  river  the  country  generally  is  heavily  tim- 
bered, but  a  few  miles  back  are  extensive  prairies.  The 
"national  road"  has  been  permanently  located  and  par- 
tially constructed  to  this  place. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  347 

Venus  is  a  landing  in  Hancock  county,  at  the  head  of 
the  Lower  rapids.  The  settlement  is  dense,  and  the 
situation  pleasant.  It  must  become  a  place  of  business. 
The  mineral  called  geode  is  found  here  in  abundance. 

Vermilion  River,  of  the  Wabash,  rises  in  the  great 
prairies  of  Champaign  and  Iroquois  counties',  and  enters 
the  Wabash  in  the  state  of  Indiana.  Its  branches  are 
North,  Middle,  and  Salt  forks. 

North  fork,  rises  in  Iroquois  county,  and  unites  with 
the  main  stream  below  Danville. 

Salt  fork  rises  in  Champaign  county,  near  the  head 
of  the  Sangamon  river,  runs  a  south  course  till  it  enters 
township  eighteen  north,  in  range  ten  east,  'when  it 
makes  a  sudden  bend  and  runs  north  of  east  to  Danville. 
The  salt  works  are  on  this  stream,  six  miles  above  Dan- 
ville. 

Middle  fork,  rises  in  the  prairie,  forty  miles  north  west 
of  Danville,  and  enters  Salt  fork. 

The  timber  on  these  forks  is  from  one  to  two  miles 
wide  and  of  a  good  quality*  The  adjoining  prairies  are 
dry,  undulating,  and  rich. 

Vermilion,  (Little]  rises  in  the  south  part  of  Vermilion 
county,  and  enters  the  Wabash  river  in  Indiana.  It  is 
a  mill  stream,  with  a  gravelly  and  rocky  bottom,  and  has 
a  fine  body  of  timber  on  its  banks.  Large  and  flourish  - 
ing  settlements  have  been  made  on  both  sides  of  the 
timber  to  its  head. 

Vermilion  River,  of  the  Illinois,  passes  across  the  north 
west  part  of  McLean  county,  into  La  Salle,  and  enters 
the  Illinois  near  the  foot  of  the  rapids.  Towards  its 
head  the  surface  is  tolerably  level,  with  a  rich  soil, 


348  A    GAZETTEER 

large  prairies,  and  but  small  quantities  of  timber.  To- 
wards the  Illinois  its  bluffs  become  abrupt,  often  100 
feet. high,  with  rocky  banks  and  jfrequent  rapids  and  falls. 
It  is  an  excellent  mill  stream,  about  fifty  yards  wide, 
and  runs  through  extensive  beds  of  bituminous  coal.  Its 
bluffs  contain  immense  quarries  of  lime,  sand,  and  some 
free  stone  excellent  for  grind  stones.  The  timber  upon 
its  banks  are  oaks  of  various  kinds,  walnut,  ash,  sugar 
maple,  hickory ,  etc. 

VIENNA,  the  county  seat  of  Johnson  county,  contains 
twenty-five  or  thirty  families,  and  three  stores.  It  is 
situated  on  the  East  fork  of  Cash  river,  in  sections  five 
and  six,  thirteen  south,  three  east.  The  main  road 
from  Golconda  to 'Jonesboro,' and  Jackson,  Mo.  passes 
through  this  place.  It  is  in  latitude  37  deg.  25  minutes 
north. 

Village  Prairie,  in  Edwards  county,  two  miles  north 
i  on,  about  three  miles  wide.     A  small  stream  call- 
ed "The.  Village"  runs  through  it  to  the  little  Wabash. 

Vincennes  Road  passes  from  Vincennea  to  St.  Louis, 
through  Lawrence,  Clay,  Marion,  Clinton,  and  St.  Clair 
counties,  154  miles.  A  commodious  four  horse  stage 
runs  each  way  three  times  a  week. 

Vinegar  Plill,  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  six  miles  north  of 
Galena,  is  a  prairie  country,  and  contains  one  of  the 
richest  lead  mines  in  this  region. 

nsfi  Grove,  in  the  east  part  of  Shelby  county,  is.jon 
one  of  the  heads  of  the  Little  Wabash.  The  timber  and 
prairie  are  excellent  and  the  settlement,  is  large. 

JFalash  Point,  in  the  south  western  part  of  Coles  coun- 
ty, is  the  principal  head  of  the  Little  Wabash.  The 


OF    ILLINOIS. 

timber  and  adjoining  prairie  are  good,  and  the  settlement 
is  largo. 

Wailys  Settlement  is  in  Bond  county,  nine  miles  west 
of  Greenville  and  on  the  west  side  of  Shoal  creek.  The 
prairie  is  good,  and  the  timber  abundant. 

Wakefield's  Settlement,  in  the  south  part  of  Shelby 
county,  is  a  fertile  tract  well  timbered.  The  settlement 
is  large. 

Walnut  Creek,  in  Morgan  county,  enters  the  Illinois 
above  Plum  creek. 

Walnut  Creek  heads  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Taze- 
weil  county,  and  enters  the  Mackinau  in  section  sixteen, 
twenty-five  north,  one  west.  It  has  a  free  current,  gra- 
velly bottom,  and  runs  through  rich  land. 

Walnut,  a  branch  of  Beaucoup  creek,  in  Perry  county. 
Walnut  Grove,  a  rich  tract  on  Walnut  creek,  in  Taze- 
well  county,  about  one  mile  wide  and  nine  long. 

Walnut  Grove,  a  settlement  in  the  south  west  corner 
of  Edgar  county. 

Walnut  Hill  Prairie,  on  the  line  between  Jefferson 
and  Marion  counties.  Some  parts  arc  tolerably  good, 
others  rather  flat  and  wet.  It  is  four  miles  long,  and 
-three  broad,  and  contains  seventy-five,  families. 

Walnut  Prairie,  in  Clark  county,  near  the  Wabaisb, 
a'.iout  five  miles  long  and  two  broad.  It  is  tolerably 
level,  has  a  rich  sandy  soil,  and  a  fine  settlement. 

Walker's  Grove,  on  the  Du  Page,  in  Cook  county,  forty 
miles  from  Chicago,  is  a  beautiful  tract  surrounded  by  a 
rich  prairie  and  a  large  settlement.  It  is  about  three 
miles  long  and  one  wide. 

Ward's  Settlement  is  the  oldest  in  Macon  county,  and 
is  eight  miles  south  of  Decatur. 


A    GAZETTEER 

Warsaw,  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids  of  the  Mississippi, 
in  Hancock  county,  many  think  will  be  an  important 
commercial  town.  It  is  near  old  fort  Edwards. 

.Washington,  a  new  village  in  the  western  part  of  Ful- 
ton county,  twenty  miles  from  Lewistown. 

WATERLOO,  the  seat  of  justice  for  Monroe  county,  is 
situated  on  highground,in  township  two  south,  ten  west. 
It  has  a  court  house  of  brick,  two  stores,  two  taverns, 
and  about  twenty  families. 

Wattes  Settlement,  in  Crawford  county,  is  sixteen  miles 
west  from  Palestine,  and  has  about  twenty  families. 

Webb's  Prairie,  and  settlement,  in  Franklin  county, 
fifteen  miles  east  of  north  from  Frankfort.  The  land  is 
good. 

Wergle^s  Settlement,  in  Adams  county,  has  600  or  700 
industrious  Germans,  of  the  society  of  Dunkards,  and  is 
watered  by  the  West  fork  of  McKee's  creek. 

West  Fork  of  Kaskaskia  River  rises  in  Macon  county, 
in  township  sixteen  north,  four  east,  and  enters  the  main 
stream  tea  miles  above  Shelbyville.  The  land  on  its 
borders,  in  general,  is  excellent,  and  the  timber  good. 

West  Fork  of  J^uddy. Settlement t  in  the  north  western 
part  of  Jefferson  county,  is  a  well  timbered  tract. 

West  Fork  of  Shoal  Creek  rises  in  the  north  part  of 
Montgomery  county,  in  nine  north,  three  westy  runs 
south,  and  fcrms  the  main  creek.  The  average  width 
of  the  timber  is  two  nrles. 

West's  Settlement,  in  Johnson  county,  on  the  oast  side 
of  Cash  river,  is  a  fine,  fertile  tract,  and  has  thirty  fa- 
milies. 

WhUakcr's  Creek,  in  Greene  county,  a  branch  of  Apple 
creek  on  the  south  side. 


OF    ILLINOIS.  35  i 

Whitley's  Point  is  the  head  of  Whitley's  creek,  in  Shel- 
by county,  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  and  fifteen  miles 
north  cast  from  Shelbyville.  The  timber  and  prairie 
are-good. 

Whitley's  Settlement,  on  Whitley's  creek,  Shelby  coun- 
ty, fifteen1  rniles  north  east  from  Shelbyville,  is  a  mix- 
ture of  timber  and  prairie. 

Whitney's  Grove,  a  post  office  in  Hancock  county. 
Whiteside's  Settlement,  in  Pope  county,  is  twelve  miles 
west  of  Golconda  on  Big1  Bay  creek  and  the  state  road, 
and  has   100  families. 

Whiteside's  Station,  in  Monroe  county,  five  miles  north 
of  Waterloo,  is  one  of  the  oldest  American  settlements  . 
in  Illinois. 

Wiggins's  Ferry,  on  the  Mississippi  opposite  St.  Louis, 
and  the  property  adjoining,  are  otvned  by  a  company. 
Here  are  two  good  steam  boats,  a  public  house,  livery 
stable,  store,  and  post  office. 

Wilcoxen**  Settlement,  in  Fulton  county — good  soil. 
Williams' 's  Creek  rises  in  Hancock  and  enters  Crooked 
creek  in  Schuyler  county. 

Willis's  Settlement , in  Putnam  county. five  miles  eastof 
Hennepin,  was  begun  in  1827,  in  a  rich  tract  of  land. 

Wilson's  Grove }is  a  beautiful  eminence  one  mile  west 
of  Jacksonville,  and  now  called  College  Kill.  The  Illinois 
college  stands  on  its  eastern  slope. 

Winchester,  in  Morgan  county,  sixteen  miles  south 
west  of  Jacksonville,  on'sectioa  twenty-nine,  township 
fourteen  north,  in  range  twelve  west  of  the  third  prin- 
cipal meridian,  was  laid  off  in  1831,  on  elevated  ground, 
and  contains  four  stores,  on§  grocery,  a  large  tannery, 


A    GAZETTEER 

mechanics  of  various  kinds,  one  tavern,  three  physicians, 
a  Baptist  meeting  house,  and  s'ixty  families.  Three  saw, 
and  two  flouring  mills  are  on  the  Sandy  in  this  vicinity. 
The  water  is  excellent.  Lime  and  free  stone  abound. 

Winnebfigo  Inlet,  in  Putnam  county,  passes  through  se- 
veral ponds  into  the  Winnebago  Swamp. 

Winnebago  Outlet  enters  Rock  river  in  seventeen 
north,  one  east.  It  runs  from  the  Winnebugo  Swamp. 

Winnebago  Swamp  is  in  Henry  and  Putnam  counties, 
thirty  miles  long,  and  from  one  half  to  three  miles  wide. 

Wolf  Creek  is  a. branch  of  Sangamon  river,  in  Sanga- 
mon  county.  The  land  is  level  but  well  settled. 

Wolf  Creek,  in  Effingham,  enters,  the  Kaskaskia  river. 

Wolf  Run,  in  Morgan  county, enters  Dickerson's  lake. 

Wood  River,  in  Madison  county,  enters  the  Mississip- 
pi nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri.     It  rises 
. acoupen  and  runs  through  a  fine  country. 

Wood's  Prairie  is  a  small  tract  of  good  land  inWabasb 
county,  ten  miles  from  Mount  Carrael. 

Worl&fs  Creek,  in  Adams  county,  enters  Bear  creek. 

Yellow  Banks  are  sand  bluffs  of  the  Mississippi,  in 
Warren  and  Mercer  counties,  distinguished  as  the  Low- 
er,Middle, and  Upper,at  the  mouths  of  Henderson, Pope, 
and  Edwards  rivers — the  first  five  miles  long.  They  fur- 
nish convenient  landings  for  steam  boats. 

Yellow  Creek,  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  enters  the  Peek- 
a-ton-orkee  near  its  junction  with  Rock  river.  It  ri- 
ses near  Kellogg's  grcve. 

F.irfc,  a  village  in  Clark  county,  on  the  Wu 
tains  one  steam  saw  and  flouring  mill,  four  stoi 
r.bout  fifty  families. 


APPENDIX  I. 


TABLE  I. 

i  Table  exhibiting  the  JVame  of  each  County,  Date  of  For~ 
mation,  Number  of  Square  Jlilcs,  Votes  polled  in  August, 
1834,  Estimated  Population,  and  Seat  of  Justice. 


COUNTIES 

1     SQ.-      1    VOTE 

DATEUiLES|  18:54 

LA'/IONJ   SEAT3  °F  JUST1CI 

Adams 

1&25I  820 

72b 

SSOO^uincy 

Alexander 

1819 

375 

249 

1755  Unity 

Bond 

1817 

£60 

519 

4387 

Greenville 

Calhoun 

1825 

260  ' 

151 

1612 

Gilead 

Champaign 

1833   864 

102 

785 

Urbanna 

Clark 

1819 

500 

451 

3423 

Darwin 

Clay 

1824 

620 

172 

1020 

Maysville 

Clinton               1824 

500 

414 

3150 

Carlyle 

Crawford            1816 

378 

519     2200 

Palestine 

Coles                    18SO 

1248 

680 

4500 

Charleston 

Cook                     18SO 

528 

3265 

Chicago 

Edgar                   1823 

648 

788 

2747 

Paris 

Edwards              1814 

375 

239 

2250 

Albion 

Effingharn 

1831 

486 

129 

950 

Ewington 

Fayette 

1821 

684 

665 

?463  VANDALIA 

Franklin 

18181  864 

759 

5660  Frankfort 

Fulton 

18251  590 

607 

2650  Lewistown 

Gal  latin 

Greene  . 

1812 
1821 

864 
912 

1312 
1360 

10000  Equality 
11100!Carrollten 

Hamilton 

1821 

378 

460 

3350  1  McLeansboro1 

Hancock 

1825 

775 

357 

1785 

Carthage 

Henry 

1825 

800 

210] 

354 


APPENDIX  . 


TABLE  I. — CONTINUED. 


COUNTIES 

I)ATK™s 

ws4li«o;h-;»  ™ 

Iroquois              1  1833  2300,.       67 

850  1 

Jackson              1  1316 

576,     354 

28401  Brownsville 

Jasper                   1331 

233 

Newton 

Jefferson               1319 

576     455 

^P50'Mount  Vernon 

Jo  Daviess 

1327 

492 

2422'Gaiena 

Johnson 

1312 

488 

316 

2465  Vienna 

Knox 

1325 

792      180!     1225KnoxviIle 

La  Salic 

18312:304]     239      1223  Ottawa 

Lawrence 

1321   580 

618 

3875(Lawrepceville 

Macon 

13291404 

292 

2295'Decatur 

Madison 

1312!  750!  1307 

19100  Edwardsville 

Macoupen 

1S29|  720     624 

4058Carlinville 

Marion 

1823   576     372 

3006Salem 

?tlcDonough 

1325    576  •  304 

ISOOMacomb 

McLean 

1830  1916     498 

2500  Bloomington 

Piercer 

1325 

260J 

Monroe 

l^'lGj  :360 

449 

aterloo 

Montgomery 

13211  980 

475 

443S  Milhboro' 

Morgan 

18231114 

27l7i  22950  Jacksonville 

Peoria 

1825 

648 

223 

1930  Peoria 

Perry 

1827 

432 

273 

1635 

Pinckneyville 

Pike 

1821 

800 

657 

3570 

Pittsfield 

Pope 

1816 

576 

444 

42S6 

GJolconda 

Putnam 

1825  1340 

333 

1735 

flennepin 

Randolph 

540 

814 

5540 

Kaskaskia 

Rock  Island 

1331 

83 

680 

Sangamon 

1S21 

1270 

22  1C 

21700 

Sprhigfield 

Scbuyler 

1825 

864 

680 

4240 

Rushvi  le 

Shelby 

j  -  n 

1030 

036 

4180 

Shelbyville 

St.  Clair 

1795 

ll.;30 

11SS 

10350 

Belleville 

Tazewell 

1827 

1130 

433 

5855 

Pekin 

Union 

1818 

396 

545 

4437 

Jonesboro1 

Vermilion 

1025 

10300 

Danville 

Wabash 

1824 

180 

441 

3637 

Mount  Carmel 

APPENDIX". 


TABLE  I. — CONTINUED. 


V..OTK  |  POPU- 

1834  |   LATION 


SEATS   OK    JUSTICE 


Warren 
Washington 
Wayne 
White 

1  18-451  900| 
11818 
|I819i  576! 
'   jlSlo!  480! 

286! 

471i 
977 

21001  Mon  mouth 
27401  Nashville 

3875iFairfield 
8050  1  Car  mi 

,  10:2|:250,000 


N.  B.  The  foregoing  table  of  population  is  altogether 
liypothetical,  and  calculated  for  the  present  year,  1834- 
In  September,  1835,  the  census  will  be  tarken  by  autho- 
rity of  the  state. 


356  APPENDIX. 

TABLE  II. 

A  Table  of  Public  Officers  in  Illinois,  both,  State  and  Nation- 
al, August,' 182^. 

GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  STATE. 
JOHN  REYNOLDS,  Governor;  term  of  service  expires 

1st  Mbnday  in  December,  1834.     General  JOSEPH 

DUNCAN  recently  elected  to  serve  the  next  four 

years. 
,    Lieutenant  Governor,  vacant.     A.  M. 

JENKINS,  Esq.  recently  elected  to  serve  *he  next 

four  years. 
W.M.  LEE  D.  EWING,  Speaker  pro  tern,  of  the  senate, 

acd  ex  officio  lieutenant  governo     till  1st  Monday  in 

December  next. 

ALEXANDER  P.  FIELD,  Secretary  of  State. 
JAMES  T.  B.  STAPP,  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts. 
JOHN  DEMENT,  Treasurer. 
N.  W.  EDWARDS,  Attorney  General. 


UNITED  STATES  COURT— For  the  District  of  Illinois. 

NAMES  OFFICES  HESIDESCE  SALARY. 

Nathaniel  Pope  Judge  Kaskaskia    $1,000 

Javid  J.  Baker  U.  S.  Attorney          do  200  fees 

Harry  Wilton     Marshal  Carlyle  200  fees 

Win.  H.  Brown  Clerk  Vandalia         fees,  etc. 

This  court  is, held  at  Vandalia,  the  fourth  Monday  in 
May,  and  the  £rst  Monday  in  December,  annually. 


APPENDIX.  357 

U.  S.  LAND  OFFICERS  IN  ILLINOIS. 


DISTRICTS 

Kaskaskia 
Sbawneetown 
Edwardsville 
Vandalia 
Palestine 
duincy 
Danville 
Springfield 

REGISTERS                                    RECEIVERS 

Miles  Hodgkiss        Edward  Humpliries 
James  C.  Sloo           John  Caldwell 
Wm.  P.  McKee        Benj.  F.  Edwards 
Charles  Prentice     William  Linn 
Joseph  Kitcbell       Guy  W.  Smith 
Samuel  Alexander  Thomas  Carlin 
J.C.Alexander       Samuel  McRoberts 
Wm.  L.  May             John  Taylor. 

MEMBERS  OF  CONGRESS. 

SENATORS. 
NAMES  RESIDENCE  TERM  EXPIRES 

Elias  K.  Kane  Kaskaskia  March  3d,  1837 

John  M.  Robiason     Carmi  March  3d,  1885 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

First  District,  vacant,  Charles  Slade,  recently  deceased. 

Second  District,  Zadok  Casey,  of  Mount  Vernon. 

Third  District,  vacant — the  late  representative,  general 

Joseph   Duncan,    recently    elected  governor    of   the 

state. 

Representatives  Elect  to  the  Twenty-Fourth  Congress,  their 
time  commencing  March  4,  1835. 

DISTRICTS  NAMES  RESIDENCE 

First  District      ;          John  Reynolds         Belleville 
Second  District  Zadok  Casey  Mount  Vernon 

Third  District  Wm.  L.  May  Springfield 


APPENDIX, 


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B|ii*|^|'|S-i»i|! 


APPENDIX. 


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APPENDlXu 


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APPENDIX   II. 


WISCONSIN   TERRITORY. 

UNDER  this  name  is  embraced  all  the  tract  of  country 
north  of  Illinois  to  lake  Superior,  and  west  of  lake  Michi- 
gan to  the  Mississippi.  It  is  of  irregular  shape,  and 
may  be  estimated  at  350  miles  from  south  to  north,  and 
from  150  to  450  miles  from  east  to  west.  Its  climate  is 
various.  South  of  the  Wisconsin,  it  is  mild,  the  win- 
ters not  extremely  severe,  and  is  well  adapted  to  most 
of  the  productions  of  the  mother  states.  In  the  interior 
are  many  lakes  and  swamps; — towards  lake  Superior,  and 
about  the  heads  of  the  Wisconsin,  are  cold,  bleak,  and 
frosty  regions,  covered  with  hemlock,  spruce,  and  pine. 

South  of  the  Wisconsin  is  the  most  extensive  mineral 
country,  especially  lead  ore  or  galena.  -And  here,  also 
is  a  delightful  farming  region.  Like  the  northern  por- 
tion of  Illinois  the  timber  is  scarce,  and  found  chiefly  in 
groves  and  skirts  along  the  streams.  It  is  this  portion  of 
the  territory,  and  of  its  several  parliculars  that  will, 
occupy  most  of  this  brief  sketch.  This  part  is  embra- 
ced in  the  county  of  Iowa,  and' a  portion  of  the  county 
of  Brown.  North  of  the  Wisconsin  is  Crawford  county, 
of  which  Prairie  dn  Chien  is  the  seat  of  justice.  A  strip 
of  country,  about  fifty  miles  in  width,  extending  from  the 
post  of  Mack  in  au,  due  west  to  the  Mississippi,  a  distance 
of  4  or  500  miles,  is  called  the  county  of  Macltinau,  or 
according  ,to  the  French  orthography,  tMichilimacinctc. 
North  of  this,  and  borderingon  lake  Superior,  the  whole 
country  is  included  within  Ctiippcway  county. 

low n  County  embraces  that  portion  of  the  territory 
which  is  south  of  the  Wisconsin  river,  and  west  of  aline, 


3G2  APPENDIX. 

clue  north  from  the  northern  boundary  of  Illinois,  a  few 
miles  west  of  Ucck  river,  to  a  point  near  Fort  Winneba- 
V •).  It  is  from  70  to  120  miles  in  length,  and  about  se- 
veuty  miles  in  width.  Its  principal  water  courses  are 
Peek-a-ton-o-kee  and  its  branches:,  Platte  river,  and 
Grant  river. 

This-ccunty  abounds  v.itb  lead,  and  is  the  most  popu- 
lous one  in  the  territory. 

Brown  Comity  lies  east  of  Iowa  and  Crawford  coun- 
ties, and  west  of  lake  Michigan,  and  embracing  the  coun- 
try about  Green  bay.  There  is  much  good  farming  land 
in  this  county,  especially  bordering  on  lake  Michigan. 
Wiih  the  exception  of  its  southern  portion,  this  tract  of 
country  is  covered  witty  good  timber  ofvarious  descrip- 
tions. White  pine  in  large  quantities,  spruce,  hemlock, 
bird),  and  many  other  kinds  of  a  northern  growth  are 
found  in  the  peninniia  between  Green  bay  and  the 
lake.  From  Fort  Winnebago  to  Green  bay  and  around 
Fox  river,  the  country  is  hilly,  timbered,  and  a  tolera- 
bly good  sc-il.  Aleut  the  Lead  of  the  buy  is  a  light 
sandy  soil,  and  the  timber  consists  of  pine,  spruce,  oaks 
i>f  various  species,  maple,  eli-n,  etc.  The  settlements 
(  nd  abeut  six  or  eight  miles  on  the  seuth  side  of  the 
bay,  and  about  the  .SYw//,  or  rapids  of  Fox  river. 

Wisconsin  territory  is  attached  to  Michigan  for  civil 
purposes  but  will  seen  form  a  separate  territory. 

The  following  articles  embrace  the  most  important 
places  necessary  to  be  mentioned  in  this  territory. 

Bad  Aze,  a  unal!  st  ream  in  Crawford  ceimty,  that  en- 
ters the  Mississippi  about  thirty  miies  above  Prairie  du 
Chicn.  Here  is  a  heavy  timbered,  rich  bottom,  in  front 

a  hilly  countiy.  This  spot  was  signalized'as  the  battle 
fir-Id  between  the  United  States  troops  and  Illinois  mi- 
liiia,  and  the  remrjant  of  the  Indian  army  of  Black  Hawk, 
i.u  the  second  of  August,  >l8---!.  About  lf.0  Indians  were 
killed  and  ilrouced,  cud  about  forty  taken  prisoners. 
Tie  Americans  lost  several  killed,  and  about  twenty 
wcunclcd. 


APPENDIX.  363 

Blue  Mounds,  in  Iowa  county,  near  the  heads  of  the 
Peek-a-ton-o-kee,and  about  sixty  miles  north, north  east 
of  Galena. 

Buncombe,  a  settlement  and  diggings  near  the  boun- 
dary line  of  Illinois,  and  about  seven  miles  north  of 
Galena. 

Blue  River,  a  small  stream  in  the  north  part  of  Iowa 
county,  that  runs  north  into  the  Wisconsin. 

Catfish,  a  considerable  stream  that  rises  near  the  Wis- 
consin in  the  north  eastern  part  of  Iowa  county,  runs 
east  of  south,  and  passes  through  the  "Four  Lakes,"  and 
enters  Rock  river  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  above  the 
boundary  of  Illinois. 

Cassviile  is  in  Iowa  county,  situated  on  the  Mississip- 
pi, on  an  elevated  bottom,  twenty-five  miles  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Wisconsin.  It  contains  fifteen  or  twenty 
families.  The  country  adjacent  contains  a  settlement, 
and  a  number  of  fine  farms. 

'English  Prairie  is  a  settlement  and  tract  of  country 
in"  Iowa  county,  near  the  Wisconsin  river. 

Fort  IFiiiiiebago  is  a  military  fort,  in  the  head  and  en 
the  south  east  side  of  Fox  river,  opposite  the  Portage. 
A  garrison  is  kept  here.  The  fort  is  on  elevated  .ground. 
The  portage  across  to  the  Wisconsin  is  low,  wet  prairie, 
which  is  passed  by  boats  in  high  water.  On  this  route 
the  first  explorers  reached  the  Mississippi  in  18'<o.  A 
steam  boat  navigation  from  Green  bay  to  the  Wisconsin 
and  Mississippi  could  be  opened  for  less  expense  than  it 
would  cost  th2  government  for  congress  to  talk  about 
it.  A  steam  boat  has  ascended  the  Wisconsin  to  Fort 
Winnebagq  the  present  year,  (18 

Four  Lakes  are  on  Catfish  creek  near  (he  boundary 
line  between  Iowa  and  Brown  counties.  The  first  com- 
mences about  twenty  miles  above  the  junction  of  Cat-fish 
with  llock  river,  and  the  others  are  f n  in  three  to  six 
miles  apart  from  each  other.  These  lakes  have  a  rocky 
and  sandy  shore,  a  gra-velly  bottom,  slid  pure  water. 

They  arc  generally  six  cr  e^ght  miles  long,  and  three 


364  APPENDIX. 

or  four  miles  wide,  abounding  with  bass,  trout,  and  other 
kinds  of  fish,  and  surrrounded  with  excellent  farming 
land  and  fine  timber. 

Fox  River  is  principally  in  Brown  county  and  termi- 
nates  in  Green  bay.  It  takes  its  rise  in  a  lake  in  a  tam- 
arisk swamp  about  fifteen  miles  south  south  east  from 
Fort  Winnebago,  winds  round  and  passes  by  the  fort  in 
a  north  eastcourse,  in  which  direction  it  continues.  The 
country  on  its  borders  is  hilly,  timbered,  and  rather  thin 
soil.  Its  navigation  is  somewhat  obstructed  by  rapids. 
Grant  River,  in  Iowa  county.  It  rises  in  the  country  west 
of  the  Blue  mounds,  run's  a  course  a  little  west  of  south, 
and  enters  the  Mississippi  about  twenty  miles  above  the 
boundary  line.  It  has  skirts  and  groves  of  timber,  and 
rich  undulating  prairie,  on  which  many  families  are  set- 
.tled. 

Orations  Grove  is  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  north  east 
of  Galena,  and  near  the  boundary  line  of  Illinois.  Here 
is  a  post  office  and  a  fine  settlement. 

Green  Bay  is  in  the  north  eastern  part  of  Brown  coun- 
ty. The  bay  puts  out  from  lake  Michigan  sixty  or  se- 
venty miles.  Its  width  is  various,  from  six  to  twenty  or 
probably  thirty  m'iles.  Towards  the  lake  the  land  is 
cold,  swampy  and  undesirable.  Here  are  large  tracts  of 
cranberry  marshes,  and  rice  lakes.  The  settlement  is 
chiefly  at  the  head  of  the  bay,  contains  7  or  800  inhabi- 
tants, with  considerable  good  land. 

Green  Bay  Settlement  is  230  miles  north  from  Chicago, 
220  miles  north  east  from  Galena,  120  from  fort  Wineba- 
go,  and  in  north  lat.  44  deg.  44  minutes. 

IlarJscrabblc,  a  settlement  and  diggings  twelve  or  fif- 
teen miles  north  of  Galena. 

Helena,  a  town  site  on  the  Wisconsin,  north  west  of 
the  Blue  mounds,  and  about  equidistant  from  Prairie, 
du  Chien  and  fort  Winnebago.  About  one  mile  below 
this  site,  Mr.  Daniel  Whitney,  of  Green  bay,  has  erect- 
ed a  shot  tower,  where  lie  contemplates  to  manufacture 
from  5  to  6000  pounds  of  shot  per  month,  when  in  full  ope- 


APPENDIX.  365 

ration.  The  shot  will  fall  180  feet,  120  of  which  are  cut 
out  of  the  solid  rock.  This  precipice  is  said  to  form  one 
entire  block,  without  seam  or  crevice.  Saw  mills  are 
erecting  on  the  Wisconsin  and  farms  are  improving  in  the 
vicinity  of  Helena. 

Itasca  Lake,  the  Lac  la  Biche  of  the  French,  is,  accord- 
ing to  the  work  of  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  recently  published, 
the  extreme  head  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  it  is  no- 
ticed here  on  that  account. 

It  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  seven  or  eight  miles 
long  from  south  east  to  jiorth  west,  and  of  irregular  form. 
The  waters  are  cool  and  transparent,  and  its  shores  are 
covered  with  elm,  linden,  cherry,  maple,  and  other  tim- 
ber common  to  a  northern  latitude. 

Its  outlet,  which  is  connected  with  a  string  of  small 
lakes,  is  ten  or  twelve  feet  broad,  and  twelve  or  fifteen 
inches  deep.  Its  branches  are  level,  and  has  every 
mark  of  a  diluvial  formation.  Mr.  Schoolcraft  has  cal- 
culated the  surface  of  this  lake  to  be  1,500  feet  above 
that  of  the  Atlantic  ocean,  and  3,160  miles  from  its  ex- 
treme outlet. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  this  account  varies  a  little  in 
that  given  on  page  fifteen  in  part  first.  Mr.  Schoolcraft 
has  recently  published  an  account  of  a  second  tour  he  has 
made  to  the  heads  of  the  Mississippi,  in  which  he  traced 
this  lake  out  as  the  extreme  source  of  the  "Father  of 
Waters." 

Kush-ka-nong  ("the  lake  we  live  on,")  is  a  lake,  in 
Brown  county,  on  Rock  river,  six  or  eight  miles  in  dia- 
meter, with  some  swamps  and  quagmires  in  its  vicinity. 
Its  bed  and  shores  are  sandy.  It  is  situated  between 
the  mouth  of  Catfish,  and  Whitewater.  Rock  river  pass- 
es through  it. 

Kickapao  River  rises  about  sixty  miles  north  of  Prai- 
rie du  Chien,  runs  a  south  course,  and  enters  the  Wis- 
consin about  twenty  miles  above  the  junction  of  the  lat- 
ter with  the  Mississippi.  Fine  timber,  some  small  prai- 
ries, and  rich  land  are  found  on  this  stream. 


•366  APPENDIX. 

Man-a-ta-icok,  a  river  that  rises  towards  the  Wirfneba- 
go  lake,  in  Brown  county,  runs  east  and  enters  lake 
Michigan.  The  country  along  its  borders  is  heavily  tim- 
bered, and  is  good  second  rate  land. 
Melwaukee  is  a  large  stream  in  Brown  county,  that  rises 
in  the  swampy  country  south  of  Winnebago  lake,  runs  a 
south  easterly  course,  aad  after  its  junction  with  anoth- 
er stream,  forms  Melwaukee  bay  at  lake  Michigan,  thir- 
ty or  forty  miles  above  the  boundary  line  of  Illinois. 

This  stream,  as  is  the  case  with  others  on  the  west 
side  of  lake  Michigan,  runs  over  a  rocky  bed,  and  forms 
an  excellent  mill  stream.  A  valuable  timbered  country 
lies  on  its  borders. 

Mdwaukee  Baty,  at  the  moutli  of  Melwaukee  river, 
will  admit  of  being  formed  into  an  excellent  harbor.  A 
beautiful  town  site  is  said  to  exist,  American  families  are 
settling  it,  and  it  is  expected  to  become  soon  a  place  of 
considerable  business. 

Mineral  Point,  the  seat  of  justice  for.  Iowa  county,  is 
situated  on  the  waters  of  the  Peek-a-ton-o-kea,  about 
thirty-six  miles  nor.h  east  of  Galena.  It  contains  several 
stores,  and  smelting  furnaces,  and  about  twenty  famil- 
ies. Around  it  are  supposed  to  be  vast  quantities  of 
le.ad.  The  country  is  chiefly  prairie  and  barrens,  with 
groves  and  skirts  of  timber. 

Mounds.  Amongst  the  wonders  of  nature  in  this  region 
are  the  mounds,  found  in  the  various  parts  of  the  mining 
district.  I  mean  not  those  trifling  hillocks  or  eminences 
spread  over  the  west,  and  about  which  so  many  fables  of 
extinguished  races  of  men  have  been  written.  But  those 
magnificent  elevations,  whose  summits  reach  800  or  1,000 
feet  above  the  common  level  o^the  surrounding  country, 
whose  bases  extend  over  a  mile  in  diameter,  and  which 
can  be  seen  at  the  distance  of  thirty  miles. 

To  suppose  that  these  have  been  thrown  up  by  the 
hand  of  man  is  ridic  alotis.  The  earth  around  these  mounds 
exhibits  evident  imrks  of  diluvial  formation.  It  is  mixed 
with  occasional  layers  cf  sand  and  lima  stone. 


APPENDIX.  367  * 

Of  these  mounds  five  in  particular  deserve  notice. 

The  first  stands  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Sinsinewa 
and  Menomine  rivers,  eight  miles  north  of  Galena,  and 
upon  high  ground,  about  four  miles  from  the  Mississippi. 

Three  others  are  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Platte  ri- 
ver, twenty-three  miles  north,  north  east  from  Galena, 
and  are  known  by  the  name  of  the  Platte  mounds.  They 
stand  nearly  on  a  line  with  each  other  and  about  one  mile 
apart. 

The  largest  of  all  is  a  double  one,  or'two  apparently 
united,  and  called  the  Blue  mounds.  They  are  about 
sixty  miles  north  east  from  Galena,  and  near  the  head 
waters  of  the  Peek-a-ton-o-kee. 

Mud  L'lke  Fork,  a  principal  branch  of  Rock  river.  It 
takes  its  rise  from  Doly's  creek,  near  Fox  river  and 
Winnebago  lake,  passes  through  a  marsh  or  quagmire 
swamp,  runs  a  course  west  of  south,  and  unites  with  oth- 
erbranches  above  Kush-ka-cong  lake.  In  this  region 
are  many  swamps  and  lakes  covered  with  wild  rice. 

Platte  R'.vcr  rises  near  the  heads  of  Fever  river  an£ 
the  Platte  mounds,  runs  a  south  westerly  course,  and 
enters  the  Mississippi  fifteen  miles  above  the  boundary 
Una  of  lU'inois.  There  is  a  skirt  of  timber  on  its  banks, 
and  plenty  of  rolling  rich  prairie,  and  asettlement. 

Piatlsmlle  is  near  the  head  of  this  stream,  asmall  village, 
settlement,  and  post  office,  with  excellent  mines. 

Pine  River,  a  branch  of  tlie  Wisconsin,  in  Crawford 
county.  It  rises  in  a  mountainous  country,  runs  a  south 
course,  and  enters  the  Wisconsin  about  half  way  between 
its  mouth  and  Fort  Winnebago.  The  country  along  it 
is  hilly,  nnJ  largo  bodies  of  pine  timber. 

Prairie  du  Chien,  is  an  old  French  and  Indian  village 
and  now  the  scat  of  justice  for  Crawford  county,  It  is 
situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  on  a  prairie, 
three  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin  river.  It 
contains  about450inl}abitat}ts,mostlyCanadiin  French, 
and  a  few  half  breeds.  The  United  States  gjvernnent 
has  a  garrison  at  this  place,  and  owns  three  leagues 


638  APPENDIX. 

square.  The  rest  of  the  country  north  of  the  Wisconsin 
is  still  owned  by  the  Indians. 

A  school,  for  the  instruction  of  the  Winnebagoes,  has 
been  established  in  the  vicinity  of  this  place  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  is  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  the  Rev.  D.  Lowry  and  his  lady,  of  the  Cum- 
•  berland  Presbyterian  denomination.  The  United  States 
government,  according  to  the  treaty  of  18SO,  have  appro- 
riated  3,000  dollars  per  annum  for  twenty-seven  years 
to  the  support  of  this  school,  and  2,500  dollars  per  annum, 
for  the  sa,me  period,  to  be  expended  in  the  support  of  a 
farm  and  teaching  the  Indians  agriculture. 

Racoon  Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Crawford  county  that 
enters  the  Mississippi  above  the  mouth  of  Bad  Axe  creek. 

Shullsbiirg,  a  settlement  and  diggings,  in  the  south 
part  of  Iowa  county,  near  the  head  of  Fever  river. 

Shab-wi-wi-a-gun,  a  small  stream  in  Brown  county, 
that  enters  lake  Michigan  some  distance  above  Malwau- 
ee. 

Trembling  Lands,  (Fr.  Terre  tremblant,)  in  the  region 
of  country  on  Rock  river,  above  Kush-ka-nong  lake,  is  a 
tract  of  country  for  thirty  or  forty  miles  in  extent,  from 
south  west  1C  the  northeast,  made  up  of  alternate  sand 
ridges  covered  with  shrubs,  and  quagmires,  and  swamps, 
that  shake^  for  some  distance  around  when  the  traveler 
attemps  to  pass  over  them.  This  region  is  supposed  to 
have  been  a  lake  in  some  former  period. 

White  Water,  a  branch  of  Rock  river,  that  rises  near 
the  heads  of  Fox  river  of  Illinois,  runs  a  west  course, 
and  enters  Rock  river  at  the  head  of  Kush-ka-nong  lake. 
Its  waters  are  turbid  like  the  Missouri,  and  its  bed  is 
miry. 

Winnebago  Lakers  in  Brown  county,  and  connected 
with  Fox  river.  It  is  situated  thirty  or  forty  miles  south 
of  Green  bay,  and  is  about  ten  miles  long,  and  three 
wide,  and  full  of  wild  rice.'  Fox  river  passes  through  it. 

Wisconsin  Hills.  The  tract  of  country  north  of  the 
Wisconsin  river,  from  the  great  bend  at  Fort  Winneba- 


APPENDIX.  369 

go  westward  to  the  Kickapoo  river  is  a  continual  series 
of  abrupt  hills,  rising  several  hundred  feet,  and  covered 
with  a  dense  forest  of  elm,  linden,  oak,  walnut,  ash,  su- 
gar maple,  etc.  The  soil  is  rich,  but  the  hilly  character 
of  the  country  will  prevent  settlements.  There  is  little 
bottom  or  alluvial  soil  on  the  small  streams,  and  no  grass 
amongst  the  timber.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832, 
the  troops  and  their  horses  suffered  much  in  following 
the  enemy  through  this  extremely  rough  country. 

Wisconsin  River  (Ouisconsin,  Fr.}  This  river  rises  in 
an  unknown  region  towards  lake  Superior,  runs  in  gen- 
eral a  south  western  course,  and  empties  its  waters  into 
the  Mississippi,  five  miles  below  Prairie  du  Chien,  and 
sixty  miles  above  the  northern  boundary  line  of  Illinois. 
By  the  hunters  and  voyageurs,  who  have  ascended  this  ri- 
ver three  or  four  hundred  miles,  it  is  said  to  take  its  rise 
among  mountains  of  considerable  elevation,  in  several 
branches,  as  far  northas  46  deg.  30  minutes.  The  bluffs 
or  hills  along  its  banks  are  abrupt,  high,  and  picturesque. 
When  the  principal  branches  unite  it  becomes  a  consid- 
erable river,  and  takes  a  southern  course  with  a  rapid 
current,  till  it  reaches  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Winnebago. 
Here  is  a  portage  of  three  fourths  of  a  mile  over  to 
Fox  river  of  Green  bay.  These  rivers  run  for  some 
distance  only  a  few  miles  apart.  At  fort  Winnebago 
Fox  rive^r*  turning  a  "short  corner,"  runs  north  east  into 
Green  bay,  and  the  Wisconsin,  wheeling  to  the  west, 
enters  the  Mississippi,  by  several  mouths,  in  latitude 
43  deg.  15  minutes. 

At  an  ordinary  or  low  stage  of  water,  the  Wisconsin 
is  shallow,  and  full  of  small  islands  and  sand  bars.  On 
these  islands  wild  rice  grows  in  great  abundance,  as  it 
does  in  all  the  streams  and  lakes  of  this  northern  re- 
gion. The  bottom  land,  or  basin  of  the  Wisconsin,  in- 
cluding the  river  itself,  is  from  one  to  threejniles  in  width, 
though  there  are  places  of  ten  or  twelve  miles  in  extent. 
The  bed  of  the  river  is  from  one  fourth  to  one  half  mile 
broad 

24 


370  APPENDIX. 

"Along  its  banks,  many  impressive  views  present 
themselves;  sometimes,  and  indeed  often,  lofty  and  high 
piles  of  rocks,  standing  erect,  in  a  perpendicular  posi- 
tion, are  seen  from  the  river,  on  one  side,  and  a  thick 
forest  of  timber  trees,  growing  on  the  bottom  lands,  on 
the  other  side.  The  trees  1  saw,  were  sugar  maple, 
beech,  white  ash,  linn  orbass  wood,  and  oaks  of  different 
species.  On  the  tall  cliffs,  I  saw  the  red  cedar  and  the 
arbor  vitce.  Some  of  the  bottom  lands  were  natural 
meadows,  in  which  the  grass  grew  to  the  height  of  seven 
feet.  Vast  forests- of  pine  trees  grow  on  all  the  head 
waters  of  this  river."  * 


*  Remarks  made  in  a  tour  to  Prairie  du  Chieji,  in 
1829,  by  Caleb  Atwater,  esq.  United  States  commis- 
sioner. 


APPENDIX. 


NORTH     WESTERN     TERRITORY 

IN  our  boyhood  this  name  designated  what  is  now  the 
state  of  Ohio,  or  rather  the  whole  country  north  of  the 
Ohio  river  and  east  of  the  Mississippi.  Of  late  years  it 
has  been  applied  to  what  wo  have  designated  the  Wis 
consin  territory.  The  name  is  now  fairly  driven  across 
the  Mississippi,  including  the  vast  country  around  its 
heads,  and  west  of  lake  Superior.  Much  of  its  northern 
portion  is  a  cold,  barren  region,  full  of  lakes  and  swamps, 
with  intervening  strips  of  valuable  land. 

At  the  close  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  in  1832,  general 
Scott  and  governor  Reynolds,  as  United  States  com- 
missioners, purchased  a  sfrip  of  country  on  the  western 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  about  fifty  miles  in  width,  and 
extending  from  the  western  boundary  of  Missouri,  north, 
to  a  point  some  distance  above  Dubuque's  mines.  Much 
of  this  tract  is  well  watered,  with  a  tolerable  supply  of 
timber,  and  fine,  rich  rolling  prairies. 

The  region  opposite  Galena  is  the  richest  in  lead  of 
any  portion  of  the  mineral  country.  Emigrants  are  set- 
tling this  tract  and  settlements  will  soon  be  formed 
along  the  Mississippi  from  the  Des  Moines  to  the  upper 
Iowa  river.  The  region  about  Dubuque's  mines  now 
contains  2000  inhabitants,  which,  until  the  recent  act 
of  congress  attaching  this  country  to  the  Michigan  ter- 
ritory, was  beyond  the  pale  of  civil  government.  Un- 
der these  circumstances,  they  became  a  "law  unto  them- 
selves," and  an  orderly  and  deliberate  assembly  pro- 
ceeded to  the  trial,  condemnation, and  finally,  to  the  exe- 
cution of  Patrick  O'Connor,  for  murder. 

But  what  reflects  highly  upon  their  character,  on  the 
day  of  execution  every  grog  shop  was  shut,  and  no  liquor 
sold. 

The  next  legislature  of  Michigan  will  probably  orga- 
nize this  district  into  a  county. 


372  APPENDIX. 

The  following  articles  deserve  special  notice: 

Dubaque,  a  town  opposite  the  northern  boundary  line 
of  Illinois,  and  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi.  It  is  sit- 
uated on  a  sandy  bottom,  above  high  water,  and  contains 
eight  or  ten  stores,  several  groceries,  and  about  500  in- 
habitants. 

Dubuque,  anxold  Indian  village,  is  one  mile  and  ahalf 
below  the  town,  at  the  mouth  of  Catfish  creek.  It  re- 
ceived its  name  from  a  Spaniard,  who  established  a  tra- 
ding post  there  about  sixty  years  since.  Dubuque  lived 
about  thirty  years  at  this  spot  with  the  Indians,  conci- 
liated their  affections,  won  their  confidence,  obtained 
great  influence  over  them,  and  was  adopted  as  a  chief  of 
the  nation.  At  his  death,  the  Indians  showed  great  con- 
cern and  respect,  and  made  a  tomb  or  vault  of  stone,  in 
which  they  sacredly  deposited  his  remains,  and  which 
can  be  seen  on  the  point  of  a  bluff. 

An  Indian  chief,  who  was  much  attached  to  him,  was 
afterwards  deposited  in  the  same  vault. 

The  Indians  gave  Dubuque  a  tract  of  country  in  this 
region,  the  title  to  which  is  claimed  by  several  gentle- 
men, and  which  remains  undecided. 

Catfish,  Creek  rises  in  the  prairie  country,  runs  east 
twenty-five  or  thirty  miles,  and  enters  the  Mississippi 
at  old  Dubuque.  The  country  adjacent  is  rather  hilly, 
with  lime  stone  and  considerable  timber  near  the  .Mis- 
sissippi. 

A  few1  miles  back  are  extensive  tracts  of  high,  undula- 
ting prairie,  with  a  rich  soil,  well  watered  with  fine 
springs,  and  an  excellent  farming  country. 

Turkey  River  rises  in  the  table  lands  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, runs  a  little  south  of  east,  and  enters  the  Missis- 
sippi about  thirty  miles  above  Dubuque.  The  country 
o  n  its  borders  is  similar  to  that  of  Catfish. 

\Bfiar  Creek  (Jlla-quo-ka-tois}.  There  are  two  streams 
of  this  name  west  of  the  Mississippi.  The  largest  one 
rises  in  the  great  prairie,  runs  a  south  eastern  course, 
and  enters  tbe  Mississippi  opposite  Jo  Daviess  county, 
about  thirty  miles  below  Galena. 


APPENDIX.  373 

The  small  one  rises  thirty  miles  north  west  of  Du- 
buque,  and  enters  the  Mississippi  about  six  miles  above 
the  village.  The  country  in  general  resembles  that  de- 
scribed on  Catfish  creek.  Skirts  and  groves  of  timber, 
high,  rich,  undulating  prairies,  fine  water,  and  hilly  near 
the  water  course. 

Perm  a  village  on  Little  Bear  creek,  (Ma-quo-ka-tois,) 
south  side,  and  one  mile  back  from  the  Mississippi.  The 
creek  is  usually  navigable  for  steam  boats  to  the  village, 
from  the  back  water  of  the  Mississippi.  Peru  is  a  place 
of  some  business,  and  contains  from  100  to  150  inhabi- 
tants. 

Upper  Iowa  River  takes  its  rise  in  the  great  prairies 
northwest,  towards  St.  Peter's  river,  in  several  branch- 
es, runs  first  a  south  east,  and  then  an  easterly  course, 
and  empties  itself  into  the  Mississippi  thirty  miles  above 
Prairie  du  Chien.  It  is  100  yards  wide  some  distance 
above  its  mouth,  with  high  bluffs  near  the  Mississippi.  A 
large  branch  of  this  river  is  called  Cedar  fork. 

Lower  low ct  River  rises  near  the  Des  Moines,  runs  a 
south  eastern  course,  and  receiving  several  tributaries, 
discharges  its  waters  into  the  Mississippi  opposite  Mer- 
cer county,  Illinois.  There  is  much  fine  farming  land 
on  this  stream. 

Wau-be-se-pin-e-con  is  a  stream  that  comes  from  the 
west  and  enters  the  Mississippi,  above  Rock  Island. 

Skunk  River  rises  in  the  prairies, runs  south  easterly, 
and  enters  the  Mississippi  opposite  Hancock  county. 
The,  timber  on  this  river  is  excellent,  and  the  prairies 
adjoining  are  dry,  undulating,  and  good  soil.  It  is  navi- 
gable for  steam  boats  in  high  water. 

Flint  River,  a  stream  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississip- 
pi, that  enters  that  river  a  short  distance  above  Flint 
Hill.  The  timber  and  prairie  are  good  in  this  region. 

Flint  Hill,  an  elevated  bluff  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Mississippi,  opposite  the  south  side  of  Warren  county. 
It  extends  several  miles  along  the  river,  from  one  to 
two  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  covered  with  timber. 


374  APPENDIX. 

Flint  Hill,  a  town  site  on  the  west  side  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, near  the  upper  end  of  Flint  hill.  It  has  been  re- 
cently commenced  and  contains  a  dozen  families.  The 
country  back  called  the  "JV<?w>  Purchase,"  is  rapidly  set- 
tling. Settlements  are  forming-  along  the  timber  of  both 
Flint  and  Skunk  rivers.  A  Baptist  church  has  been 
recently  constituted  on  this  tract. 


APPENDIX.  375 

ERRATA. 

PART  FIRST. 

Page  14,  line  six  from  top,  for  flint  lirne  stone  read  flint 
and  lime  stone. 

"      16,  line  two  from  bottom,  for  Wabsh  read  Wabash. 

"      19,  for  Peekatolokee,  read  Peek-a-ton-o-kee. 

"      20,  line  seventeen  from  top,  for  1821,  read  1823. 

"  22,  line  one  from  top,  for  stone  coal,  read  bitumi- 
nous coal. 

"  63,  line  six  from  bottom,  for  $100  for  the  govern- 
or's salary,  in  some  copies,  read  $1,000. 

"  81,  line  nine  from  top,  for  appointment,  read  ap- 
portionment. 

<%  88,  line  four  from  top,  for  fifty-five,  read  twenty- 
five. 

"  103,  line  seven  from  top,  for  Tamarweds,  read  Tau- 
mar- waus. 

"    105,  line  one  from  top,  for  calrnut,  read  calumut. 

"  10?',  line  five  from  bottom,  for  Port  Vincent,  read 
Post  Vincent. 

PART  SECOND. 

Page  120, line  four  from  bottom,  for  rather  wet  or  bro- 
ken, read  -^  ther  wet  or  broken. 

"     124,  line  eight  fr^nt  bottom,  for  Boltenhouse,  read 

Boltinghouse.— Next  line,  for  Bush,  read  Brush. 

"    154,  line  six  from  top,  for  Brerean,  read  Bureau. — 

"      "     line  thirteen  from  top,  for  Burcan,  read  Bureau. 

PART  THIRD. 

Page  ISO, line  three  from  bottom,  for  Barning's  Settle- 
ment, read  Banning's  Settlement. 

"    191,  line  seven  from  top,  for  Bum  Pas,  read  Bon  Pas. 

"  192,  line  eight  from  bottom,  for  Bridge's,  read 
Bridges' s. 

"    197,  first  line,  for  Cahohia,  read  Cahokia. 


376  APPENDIX. 

Page  210,  line  eleven  from  top,  for  centre  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  town,  read  centre  tc,  etc. 

t;    223,  line  eight  from  bottom,  for  O'  Gee's,  read  Ogee's. 

"    226,  line  14  from  top,  for  Vincennes,  read  Vienna. 

"    224,  line  nine  from  bottom,  for  Finche's,  read  Finch's. 

11    237,  line  three  from  bottom,  for  Fort  Massar,  read 
Fort  Jtiassac. 

"    240,  line  eight  from  top,  fur  Winsconsin,  read 
consin. 

"    242,  line  fourteen  from  bottom,  for  Fulfce's,  read 


259,  line  eleven  from  top,  for  getting  a  point,  read 

getting  around  a  point. 

"     line  twelve  from  bottom,  for  port,  read  foot. 
281,  line  two  from  top,  for  Macon,  read  Macoupen. 

"•     line  four  from  bottom,  for  polls,  read  poles. 
289,  art.  Jltiers's  Settlement,  for  two  miles,  read  ten. 
303,  for  Out  House,  read  Outhouse. 
315,  line    sixteen    from  top,   for  sentement,  read 

settlement. 
317,  line  one  from  top,  for  south  western,  read  south 

eastern. 
330,  line  eleven  from  bottom,  for   Shannon's  Stone, 

read  Shamion's  Store. 

333,  for  Six's-  Prairie,  read  S-ixes's  Prairie. 
336,  line  twelve  frombottom,forcupalo,  read  cupola. 
350,  for  Wergle's  Settlement,  read  JFeigle's  Settlement. 


A  GAZETTEER  OF  ILLINOIslNOEE  PARTS: 


